VIRAC Representatives Visit Zielona Góra, Poland
From November 27 to December 1, VIRAC scientific assistant Jānis Šteinbergs and leading visiting researcher Jesús Alberto Cázares Montes visited Zielona Góra, Poland, to participate in discussions on pulsar observations conducted with individual LOFAR stations. The visit also aimed to strengthen collaboration between Ventspils International Radio Astronomy Centre (VIRAC) of Ventspils University of Applied Sciences (VUAS) and the Janusz Gil Institute of Astronomy on joint projects related to pulsar studies.
The representatives from VIRAC, together with colleagues from the Janusz Gil Institute of Astronomy, discussed various ongoing topics in pulsar research. These discussions extended to potential collaborations on new projects. Proposed areas of collaboration include:
- Studying interstellar scintillation through pulsar observations using both LOFAR and the RT-32 radio telescope located at the Irbene complex.
- Multi-spectral AGN monitoring utilizing radio (including RT-32), optical, and X-ray telescopes.
Further discussions focused on joint observations with the radio telescopes in Irbene and Toruń, specifically RT-32 C-band observations and Toruń L-band observations, as well as observations using optical telescopes.
The delegation also initiated discussions about a potential Erasmus collaboration between VIRAC and the Janusz Gil Institute of Astronomy. This would include both student and scientific staff exchange programs.
With regard to the LOFAR station located at the Irbene complex, the possibilities for advancing pulsar research at VIRAC were explored. Plans for automating pulsar observations using the LOFAR station were outlined, including automating the data processing pipeline.
Jānis and Jesús, along with researchers from the Janusz Gil Institute of Astronomy—Dr. Levandowski and Prof. Dr. Hab. Giorgi Melikidze—discussed theoretical developments in pulsar studies. These conversations aimed to broaden the understanding of pulsars and improve current research methodologies.
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