中国首个深度参与的国际大科学工程“平方公里阵列射电望远镜”取得阶段性成果——走进“世界巨眼”南非台址

Core Insights - The Square Kilometer Array (SKA) is a major international scientific project involving multiple countries, aimed at building the world's largest radio telescope to explore cosmic mysteries [1][4][5] - The SKA project has two main sites: one in South Africa and the other in Australia, chosen for their low light pollution and optimal conditions for astronomical observations [2][3] Project Overview - SKA is designed to consist of thousands of 15-meter diameter dish antennas spread over a 3000-kilometer radius, utilizing radio interferometry to enhance signal reception [2][4] - The South African site has completed the initial phase with 64 antennas built, including 15 antennas designed and constructed by Chinese teams [2][4] Technical Features - The SKA's array layout allows for better signal coverage and reception across different frequencies and directions, enhancing its observational capabilities [3][4] - The project generates approximately 8 terabytes of data per second, which is processed by supercomputers and shared with scientists globally [4][5] Scientific Contributions - SKA is expected to significantly advance human understanding of the universe, with early results from the MeerKAT telescope already yielding important discoveries, such as imaging the center of the Milky Way and detecting signals from distant galaxies [6][7] - The project aims to explore various cosmic phenomena, including the evolution of large galaxies, the behavior of pulsars, and the dynamics of cosmic gas [6][7] International Collaboration - The SKA project is a collaborative effort involving multiple countries, with China playing a crucial role by providing key components and participating in scientific research [5][7] - The partnership between SKA and China's FAST telescope is expected to enhance research capabilities, combining strengths in observational depth and efficiency [7]