Astronomy Department Research Project

realfast: Fast Transient Surveys with the VLA

Extragalactic,Instrumentation

Researchers:

Project Description

realfast is a commensal, fast transient survey system at the VLA. By dedicating a compute cluster to the search for FRBs and other rare fast transients, we can search a duplicate, fast copy of normal observations in real time. This opens up to thousands of hours per year to finding these rare bursts. realfast will trigger the recording of data for those brief moments during the fast transient, producing a novel data product that will be served to the community. FRBs, pulsars, and flaring stars are all potential sources of fast radio transients. More information available at http://realfast.io.

Project Photos

Project Videos

Spectra of nine bursts from fast radio burst FRB 121102