The MOFF Correlator

The MOFF (Modular Optimal Frequency Fourier) correlator is a variation of direct imaging correlators that is particularly well suited for HI epoch of reionization and dark energy measurements. It's advantages are:

:* The output is fully calibrated: the image produced is an optimal map. (Particularly important for polarimetry.)

:* There are no constraints on the antenna layout or type: a randomized distribution can be used as can larger multi-wavelength antennas or even heterogeneous arrays.

:* Direction dependent gain, heterogeneous antenna responses, w-projection, and refractive and scintillating ionospheric distortions can all be easily incorporated.

:* It is equally or more efficient than a regular grid FFT correlator, and for very compact radio cosmology arrays can be orders-of-magnitude more efficient than an FX correlator.

:* As it forms a calibrated electric field image as an intermediate product, could be very interesting for pulsar searches.

This paper provides the basic description of the MOFF correlator Media:moffpaper.pdf