LOFAR
LOFAR, the Low Frequency Array, is an innovative radio telescope currently operating in the Netherlands and across Europe. Ultimately, LOFAR will continuously monitor the radio sky in the frequency range 10–240 MHz.
Transients Key Project
The study of transient sources is one of the key science projects of LOFAR. Under this remit come all time-variable astronomical radio sources, including pulsars, gamma-ray bursts, X-ray binaries, radio supernovae, flare stars, and even exo-planets. With its continuous monitoring of a large area of sky, it is hoped that LOFAR will detect many new transient events, and provide alerts to the international community for follow-up observations at other wavelengths. The project has been subdivided into four basic scientific working groups:
- Jet sources: AGN, GRBs, accreting white dwarfs, neutron stars and stellar-mass black holes
- Pulsars: classical radio pulsars, AXPs, RRATs
- Planets: solar system objects and exoplanets
- Flare stars: M, L, and T dwarfs and active binaries
Further information on the science case for the Transients Key Project is available.
Information for Members
Transients Project members should pay particular note to this list of useful sources of technical information about LOFAR and the TKP.