LOFAR
Low Frequency Array
The Low Frequency Array (LOFAR) is the largest and most sensitive radio telescope operating at low radio frequencies, between 10 and 240 MHz. It consists of antenna stations geographically distributed across Europe and driven in software by powerful station-level computing to produce a highly flexible and agile observing system. With a sensitivity more than 2 orders of magnitude better than any previous telescope at these frequencies, unparalleled angular resolution, an enormous field of view and multi-beam capabilities, LOFAR is by far the most powerful 100 MHz telescope on the planet and is revolutionising our view of the low-frequency radio universe.
Infrastructure and User Services
LOFAR is a pan-European facility, with 52 antenna stations located across 9 European countries: the Netherlands, Germany, Poland, France, Ireland, Latvia, Sweden, the United Kingdom, and Czechia. The construction of 3 further international stations in Italy, Bulgaria, and Czechia will be completed in 2027. The signals from all stations are transported over a fibre network to the central facility housed at the University of Groningen (NL). The telescope is operated from ASTRON’s Headquarters in Dwingeloo (NL). LOFAR’s substantial data and science archive is hosted in Amsterdam (NL; SURF), Jülich (DE; Forschungszentrum) and Poznan (PL, Supercomputing and Networking Center).
Scientists can apply for LOFAR observing time, along with data storage and compute resources via regular open calls for proposals, which are assessed by an independent Programme Committee. LOFAR’s data archives are freely and openly accessible, and data that is subject to a proprietary period can be accessed and downloaded. User support and regular training opportunities are provided to help users get started and solve problems they may encounter.
After almost 15 years of operation, LOFAR is currently undergoing a major upgrade to LOFAR 2.0, which will replace much of the electronic and digital infrastructure with state-of-the-art hardware and also includes new software and processing opportunities. LOFAR2.0 offers simultaneous low- and high-band observing, increased field of view, and various other improvements in the telescope’s sensitivity and operation. Rollout of the upgrade will be completed in 2026 and regular operations are expected to start in the second half of 2027.
Examples/description of the type of research
Astronomical (imaging and beamformed) observations of objects (Sun, Planets, Stars, Galaxies, etc) or fields on the sky. LOFAR is equipped with transient buffer boards that allow the capture of the raw antenna signals for (off-line) analysis - including beamforming - that allow the study of a variety of phenomena, most notably the air showers from cosmic ray particles and lightning.
How to access the infrastructure?
Scientists/users don’t have direct access to the telescope. Observations are carried out in service mode by a dedicated team at ASTRON. Users receive their data once it has been (pre-)processed and archived and are then supported in further processing and analysis of the data, either at or close to the archive or after downloading the data to their own facilities. Archived data, including final data products, is accessible in a similar way and also through the Virtual Observatory.