The Square Kilometre Array (SKA) Organization has officially designated China’s Tianlai project as an SKA Pathfinder, marking a significant milestone in global astronomical research.
Situated in the vast expanses of northwest China’s Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, the Tianlai project is spearheaded by the National Astronomical Observatories of the Chinese Academy of Sciences. “Tianlai,” meaning “heavenly sound” in Chinese, aptly describes the project’s ambition to listen to the cosmic whispers of the universe.
The primary goal of Tianlai is to validate cutting-edge technologies for detecting dark energy, the mysterious force believed to constitute about 70 percent of the universe and responsible for its accelerating expansion. Understanding dark energy is one of the most profound challenges in cosmology, and Tianlai’s contributions could be pivotal.
The project features two sophisticated telescope arrays: a columnar array equipped with 96 feed sources, and a dish array comprising 16 six-meter parabolic antennas. These instruments are designed to test detection methods for neutral hydrogen surveys, which are crucial for mapping the large-scale structure of the universe.
By joining the esteemed ranks of SKA Pathfinders, Tianlai aligns itself with a global network of leading scientific facilities that are paving the way for the SKA’s technological and scientific advancements. The SKA, an ambitious international radio telescope project involving more than 10 participating countries, aims to become the world’s largest and most sensitive radio telescope upon completion.
Tianlai’s recognition underscores China’s significant role in the international effort to unravel the cosmos’s deepest secrets. As researchers around the world eagerly await new insights, Tianlai stands as a testament to collaborative progress and the shared human quest for knowledge.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
