COLLOQUIUM - "The low frequency array as near-Earth sensor" by Maaijke Mevius (ASTRON)

Friday 6 Mar 2026, 11:00 → 12:00 Europe/Amsterdam

Colloquium (Nikhef)

In Dwingeloo, Drenthe, next to one of the oldest radio telescopes of the Netherlands, stands the Netherlands Institute for Radio Astronomy (ASTRON). The institute’s mission is to enable discoveries in radio astronomy. ASTRON’s distinctive strength lies in its fully integrated expertise: from antenna design and front- and back-end system development to large-scale telescope operations. Furthermore, it also houses a large science department.

At present, major efforts are directed toward the upgrade of the Low Frequency Array (LOFAR), a pan-European low-frequency radio telescope with its core infrastructure in the Netherlands. In parallel, ASTRON contributes to the development of the Square Kilometer Array, currently under construction with sites in South Africa and Australia and it still operates the Westerbork radio telescope.

This presentation will focus on the LOFAR telescope, highlighting key scientific results and the current status of its upgrade. I will provide a detailed overview of its operational and data acquisition modes, followed by a discussion of its scientific applications. Particular emphasis will be placed on the use of LOFAR beyond traditional radio astronomy, including measurements of near-Earth phenomena such as lightning, ionospheric dynamics, and space weather.