OSKAR: Simulating digital beamforming for the SKA aperture array

Abstract

Digital beamforming for the aperture array components of the Square Kilometre Array (SKA) poses considerable computational challenges. We propose a hierarchical scheme aimed at tackling them and introduce OSKAR, a beamforming simulator which implements these ideas and algorithms. The simulator continues to be developed to investigate possible designs for the custom devices envisaged for phase 1 of the SKA construction.