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UK Astronomers to Build Unique Radio Telescope

December 05, 2001

UK astronomers are poised for a new era of discovery with the development of e-MERLIN, the world`s most powerful radio telescope. This ambitious project will use new technology to connect antennas across the UK, creating the largest and most sensitive linked network in the world.

The 217km MERLIN radio-telescope array, run by The University of Manchester's Jodrell Bank Observatory, is to be given a £7.8m upgrade. This has been made possible by the agreement, announced today, of the Particle Physics and Astronomy Research Council (PPARC) to continue funding MERLIN operations, so assuring the future of Jodrell Bank.

Professor Andrew Lyne, Director of the Jodrell Bank Observatory, welcomed the PPARC announcement:

"The enhancement to MERLIN will give UK astronomers access to one of the world's major astronomical research instruments. This development reflects the proven technical excellence of the University staff and their world-leading research programmes."

Dr. Philip Diamond, Director of the MERLIN/VLBI National Facility added:

"In combination with the newly resurfaced 76m Lovell telescope, the upgrade will give a 30-fold increase in sensitivity. This will enable the enhanced instrument, called e-MERLIN, to probe far deeper into the Universe, achieving in one day what would currently take three years of continuous observation."

The upgrade is to be funded by the North West Development Agency (NWDA) and a consortium of three universities - Manchester, UMIST and Cambridge. The NWDA have agreed in principle to a contribution of up to £2.5 million, and its Chief Executive, Mike Shields, welcomed today`s news:

"I am delighted that the NWDA`s funding contribution will help to secure the
future of Jodrell Bank - a longstanding symbol of scientific endeavour in
the North West. This package will not just maintain Jodrell Bank`s position
at the leading edge of world astronomy, but will also help to maintain the
region`s reputation for excellence in the future."

MERLIN is the UK`s national radio-imaging facility and the only world-class astronomical facility based solely in the UK. No other radio facility in the world can routinely match the resolution of the Hubble Space Telescope. The completion of the new instrument in 2007 will help keep the UK at the forefront of astronomical research for years to come.

Radio-astronomy is crucial to the understanding of our Universe because radio waves penetrate the clouds of dust and gas that hamper observations at other frequencies. e-MERLIN will have unprecedented sensitivity and an imaging capability equivalent to viewing a 1p piece at a distance of 50 miles. It will thus open up new areas of science, particularly in fields such as extragalactic astronomy and cosmology, star formation across the Universe and studies of the extreme conditions around black holes.

The current MERLIN telescope is made up of seven radio-antennas sited around the UK. Much of the increase in sensitivity created by the upgrade will be due to the introduction of optical fibre connections between the antennas. This will allow a far greater proportion of the radio waves actually collected by the individual antennas to be brought back to Jodrell Bank than by the existing microwave radio links.

Dr. Diamond thanked Sir Martin Harris, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Manchester, for playing such a crucial role in putting together the capital funding package. He warmly welcomed the various partners involved in the project and also wished to thank the Cheshire County Council, North West Members of Parliament, and local Councillors for their great support, without which the project may well not have come to fruition.

Professor Tom Millar, Head of UMIST`s Astrophysics Group said:

"I and my colleagues are very pleased to be part of this exciting development and look forward to using e-MERLIN to advance significantly our research on star formation and the late stages of stellar evolution."

Richard Hills, Professor of Radio Astronomy at Cambridge, said:

"This is very good news for the future of UK Radio Astronomy. One of the MERLIN antennas is located here and we are delighted to be playing a part in the project. We are very much looking forward to using the enhanced facility."

End of release.

Royal Astronomical Society (RAS)