realfast: real-time fast transients at the Very Large Array

Context

The VLA is most sensitive cm-wavelength radio interferometer on the earth and can revolutionize the study of fast radio transients with its ability to localize sources with arcsecond spatial resolution. realfast will use this capability to hunt for a mysterious new class of radio transients known as fast radio bursts, pulsars, and other rare astrophysical transients.

To do this, realfast must generate roughly 1 TB of data per hour search it in real time. This data rate is so large that it cannot be transferred via the internet for data analysis. The computing requirements are so severe that no single computer can manage the search. The question is: how can we search a TB/hour data stream for the hundreds of hours needed to find these rare transients?

Our answer is realfast, a system for real-time fast transient searches at the VLA via interferometric imaging. The approach was first demonstrated with the first blind interferometric localization of a transient neutron star (see image above). The first FRB localization was made by realfast (see image below).

Approach

realfast development began in late 2016 via the NSF ATI program. It is based on a few key technologies:

  1. Computing hardware at the VLA: Real-time fast transient detection requires a dedicated computing platform to search for transients.
  2. Commensal data stream: A high-speed copy of every VLA observation can be searched for transients.
  3. Transient search pipeline: A transient search pipeline will be implemented for GPUs.
  4. Candidate data management system: Data products and transient alerts will be rapidly distributed to the public.

realfast strives for openness in every aspect. Software is open and easy to install, data has and will be made available and will be made available in the future, and the analysis behind our publications is open. More information can be found on our software and services pages.

Team

realfast funded by NSF, web design by Andrew Halle, logo design by Studio Principle More