Introduction to EXPRe S — Beyond production e-VLBI

Introduction to EXPRe. S - Beyond production e-VLBI services T. Charles Yun Program Manager EXPRe. S Project, JIVE

Presentation Overview EXPRe. S Presentation in Two Parts 1) Hayo Hase, BKG, Ude. C-TIGO, Chile 2) T. Charles Yun, EXPRe. S Project, JIVE, the Netherlands 2007 January 17 Internetworking 2006 - Santiago, Chile 2

Introduction to EXPRe. S What is EXPRe. S? • EXPRe. S = Express Production Real-time e-VLBI Service The overall objective of EXPRe. S is to create a productionlevel, real-time, “electronic” VLBI (e-VLBI) service, in which the radio telescopes are reliably connected to the central supercomputer at JIVE in the Netherlands, via a high -speed optical-fibre communication network. . . - or Make e-VLBI routine, reliable and realistic for astronomers 2007 January 17 Internetworking 2006 - Santiago, Chile 3

Introduction to EXPRe. S Details • EXPRe. S is made possible by the European Commission (DGINFSO), Sixth Framework Programme, Contract #026642 • Project Details • Three year, started March 2006 • International collaboration • Funded at 3. 9 million EUR • Means: high-speed communication networks operating in real-time and connecting some of the largest and most sensitive radio telescopes on the planet 2007 January 17 Internetworking 2006 - Santiago, Chile 4

Introduction to EXPRe. S Partners 19 partners, 21 telescopes, 6 continents, 7500 km longest baseline 2007 January 17 Internetworking 2006 - Santiago, Chile 5

Introduction to EXPRe. S Partners • Joint Institute for VLBI in Europe (coordinator), the Netherlands • AARNET Pty Ltd. , Australia • ASTRON, the Netherlands • Centro Nacional de Informacion Geografica, Spain • Chalmers Tekniska Hoegskola Aktiebolag, Sweden • Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization (CSIRO), Australia • Cornell University, USA • Delivery of Advanced Network Technology to Europe Ltd. (DANTE), UK • Instituto Nazionale di Astrofisica, Italy • Instytut Chemii Bioorganicznej PAN, Poland • Max Planck Gesellschaft zur Foerderung der Wissenschaften e. V. , Germany • National Research Foundation, South Africa • Shanghai Astronomical Observatory, Chinese Academy of Sciences, China • SURFNet b. v. , The Netherlands • Teknillinen Korkeakoulu, Finland • The University of Manchester, UK • Universidad de Concepcion, Chile • Uniwersytet Mikolaja Kopernika, Poland • Ventspils Augstskola, Latvia 2007 January 17 Internetworking 2006 - Santiago, Chile 6

e-VLBI Primer e-VLBI and Correlation • Source of data is celestial. Data is recorded by multiple telescopes at very high data rates. All the data must be sent to the same location to be processed (correlated) simultaneously. • The quality of the image increases with increased data collection rates, additional telescopes and the distance between telescopes. • The EVN Mk. IV data correlator at JIVE is a dedicated, purpose designed/built hardware (a super computer; ~100 T ops/sec). Synthesis imaging simulates a very large telescope by measuring Fourier components of sky brightness on each baseline pair. Input data is 1 Gb/s max. 2007 January 17 Internetworking 2006 - Santiago, Chile 7

Introduction to VLBI Once upon a time. . . • Everything was slow • Telescopes collected data on tapes… heavy and bulky… • Sent via postal mail… sorting tapes when they arrive… tapes were lost/damaged… • Hard drive arrays slightly improved the situation. . . • It was not unusual for the time between experiment to the beginning of correlation to be multiple weeks. • The entire cycle could easily require 6+months CFP -> approval -> experiment -> correlation -> processing -> publication • Today, you can transport the data over the network and expedite all stages of the process e-VLBI - electronic VLBI 2007 January 17 Internetworking 2006 - Santiago, Chile 8

Introduction to VLBI Why transport data over the network? • Using the network to transport data improves science • Eliminating the need to move physical objects enables: • Real time analysis • Ability to identify minor problems in data collection • Hybrid observations • Responsiveness to transient events • Automated observation (hands-off observing) • Networked data supports flexible analysis 2007 January 17 Internetworking 2006 - Santiago, Chile • Hayo’s talk addresses a specific example of observations possible only with e-VLBI 9

Introduction to Correlation Why “Grid-ify” correlation? • Grid computing offers promising possibilities: • keep up with input (e. g. , LOFAR on Blue. Gene) • Higher precision and new applications • Better sensitivity, interference mitigation, spacecraft navigation • Can CPU cycles be found on the Grid? • From 16 antenna @ 1 Gb/s (e. VLBI) To 1000 s at 100 Gb/s (SKA) 2007 January 17 Internetworking 2006 - Santiago, Chile 10

Reflection Where we are now, Lessons Learned EXPRe. S is moving into its second year as a project with additional sites obtaining connectivity and participating in e. VLBI. • International networking is coordination • EXPRe. S participants on 6 continents working towards a coherent, single, international facility. • Networking assumes connectivity • Several sites are now connected at Gbps, many have significantly improved connectivity, however… • “Last mile” issues continue and will require cooperation across multiple projects 2007 January 17 Internetworking 2006 - Santiago, Chile 11

Conclusion Questions/Answers • Contact information T. Charles Yun Project Manager EXPRe. S (JIVE) tcyun at jive dot nl • Additional Information http: //expres-eu. org/ http: //www. jive. nl/ • [note: only one “s”] EXPRe. S is made possible through the support of the European Commission (DG-INFSO), Sixth Framework Programme, Contract #026642 2007 January 17 Internetworking 2006 - Santiago, Chile 12