6–10 Jul 2026
University of the Western Cape
Africa/Johannesburg timezone
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Near- Redundant Calibration of HIRAX Visibility Simulation Data.

8 Jul 2026, 16:20
1h 20m
Great Hall ( University of the Western Cape)

Great Hall

University of the Western Cape

Oral Presentation Track D - Astrophysics & Space Science Poster Session 2

Speaker

Luyanda Khanyile (University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pursuing a Master’s degree in Astrophysics.)

Description

The Hydrogen Intensity and Real-time Analysis eXperiment (HIRAX) is a radio interferometer designed to probe the large-scale structure of the Universe through 21 cm intensity mapping, with the goal of constraining dark matter and dark energy. Achieving high-precision measurements requires accurate calibration of instrumental effects, particularly in the presence of non-redundant systematics such as antenna position offsets and gain variations.

In this work, we simulate visibility data for a HIRAX-like array incorporating realistic sky models, including the 21 cm cosmological signal, astrophysical foregrounds, and instrumental noise. We investigate the impact of non-redundancy on traditional redundant calibration techniques by introducing controlled systematic deviations in the array configuration. The performance of these calibration methods is assessed through their effect on gain recovery and the delay power spectrum, a key observable for isolating the cosmological signal.

Furthermore, we explore alternative calibration approaches that account for non-redundant effects and evaluate their effectiveness in mitigating systematic biases. By comparing redundant and non-redundant calibration strategies, this study aims to improve the robustness of calibration pipelines and enhance the reliability of 21 cm power spectrum measurements. These results contribute toward optimizing HIRAX data analysis and advancing precision cosmology with next-generation radio interferometers.

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Author

Luyanda Khanyile (University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pursuing a Master’s degree in Astrophysics.)

Presentation materials

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