SKA low frequency aperture array signal processing

Signal processing combined with communications technology are at the heart of all advanced radio telescope systems. Modern IT can provide the radical improvements in capability and performance that are driving the science capabilities of the current and planned instruments. At the forefront of improved performance are the “all-electronic” collector technologies, aperture arrays. In this paper we discuss the implementation of advanced signal processing technologies that are being used and take a worked example of the very large low-frequency phased array system being developed for the Square Kilometre Array. This shows opportunities for gaining great flexibility to the benefit of the science by using mainstream technology.