Physics & Astronomy ETDs

Publication Date

Spring 5-16-2026

Abstract

Sensitive modern radio interferometers are costly to build and operate at the university level. The `swarm telescope' concept addresses this challenge by enabling the collaborative use of individual telescope systems, overseen by separate institutions, that come together to form a more powerful and manageable facility. This dissertation focuses on demonstrating this concept using the Long Wavelength Array (LWA) by commissioning an aperture synthesis telescope consisting of interconnected LWA stations, called the LWA Swarm. The presented work details building a cost-efficient prototype LWA platform -- the LWA--North Arm station -- to enable synthesis imaging using the 3-element interferometer comprised of LWA1, LWA-SV, and LWA-NA, and a subsequent survey of 30 radio sources for use as LWA Swarm calibrators. We conclude that the LWA Swarm will achieve arcsecond resolution imaging with millijansky sensitivity, and we provide an outlook into the future as the LWA Swarm expands to seven stations.

Degree Name

Physics

Level of Degree

Doctoral

Department Name

Physics & Astronomy

First Committee Member (Chair)

Gregory Taylor

Second Committee Member

Jayce Dowell

Third Committee Member

Kenneth Obenberger

Fourth Committee Member

Ylva Pihlström

Language

English

Keywords

Radio Astronomy, Very Long Baseline Interferometry, Instrumentation

Document Type

Dissertation

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