The Works of DANTE - Issue 1
Who Uses GÉANT?
The GÉANT network connects over 3500 research and education institutions, and as a result there is no such thing as a "typical user". The applications of the network are almost limitless. Any type of research can make use of the facility. Some examples include Radio Astronomy, Particle Physics, Natural History, and Earthquake modelling.
Yet, use of the network is not restricted to "hard science" applications. Researchers in the Arts and Humanities fields including Art, History, and Geography are all able to access the network. In each issue of The Works of DANTE, we will take a more in-depth look at the types of research that are making use of the GÉANT network. This issue focuses on Radio-Astronomy.
e-VLBI
The GÉANT network is helping Europe’s radio-astronomers to see further back in time, closer to the very start of the Universe. The network is being used to connect radio telescopes all over Europe, which collect simultaneous observations. These are then correlated to form very sharp, high-definition images.
The process, known as e-VLBI (Electronic Very Long Baseline Interferometry) sends huge quantities of data, via national research networks and GÉANT, directly to a central processing centre located at JIVE (Joint Institute for VLBI in Europe) in Dwingeloo, Holland. Once there, the data is available to be immediately correlated and processed, and sharp images are produced. The old method collected data on magnetic tapes, which were then transported by courier to the correlator in Holland. This journey could take up to six weeks, so if any of the telescopes were malfunctioning, it would be weeks before the problem was diagnosed. In addition, exciting astronomical events were often over before astronomers even knew of their existence. With the help of GÉANT, e-VLBI allows rapid follow-up of significant events and provides the astronomers with the information they need to troubleshoot telescopes in near-real time.
Reverse e-VLBI
As well as supporting the VLBI technique, GÉANT can also open the way for astronomers all over the world to access the data and images produced at JIVE in Holland. This method, known as "reverse e-VLBI" transfers data from the central correlator in Dwingeloo directly to an astronomer’s personal computer. GÉANT has enabled the creation of an enormous, online community of astronomers, who have greater, faster access to data than ever before.
Find out more about e- VLBI at http://www.evlbi.org/
How do you use GÉANT? If you have a story to share please contact us via the feedback form.
