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Table of Contents

Introduction

This page helps researchers understand the different modes and data rates of the new MWAX Correaltor and Voltage Capture System (VCS) at a time when the number of used tiles in the MWA is expanding beyond the original 128T (128 tiles) which has been the standard since science commissioning in 2013. With the advent of new receivers, MWA will incrementally expand the number of tiles (nominally 8 per receiver) over time time of Phase 3.

Voltage Capture System (VCS)

VCS Modes

The

...

  • 128T (16 RRI receivers)
  • 24 x 1.28 MHz non-oversampled coarse channels
  • No fringe-stopping enabled

Voltage Capture (VCS)

...

MWAX VCS system has the following modes:

  • MWAX_VCS - This is the standard voltage capture mode where incoming voltages from the receivers are written to disk (each MWAX server writes 1.28 MHz of the 30.72 MHz bandwidth).

  • MWAX_BUFFER - In this mode, voltages are captured from receivers, but not written to disk unless triggered to do so by the M&C system (this could be via a VO event trigger or with human intervention).

VCS Data Rates

The below table summarises the Voltage Capture (VCS) data rates with 1.28 MHz channels, 0.781 μs critically sampled.

1 Channel

 24 Channels

Tiles

GB/s

TB/hr

GB/s

TB/hr

128

0.66

2.37

15.83

56.98

136

0.70

2.52

16.82

60.54

144

0.74

2.67

17.81

64.10

152

0.78

2.82

18.79

67.66

160

0.82

2.97

19.78

71.22

168

0.87

3.12

20.77

74.78

176

0.91

3.26

21.76

78.34

184

0.95

3.41

22.75

81.90

192

0.99

3.56

23.74

85.47

200

1.03

3.71

24.73

89.03

208

1.07

3.86

25.72

92.59

216

1.11

4.01

26.71

96.15

224

1.15

4.15

27.70

99.71

232

1.20

4.30

28.69

103.27

240

1.24

4.45

29.68

106.83

248

1.28

4.60

30.66

110.39

256

1.32

4.75

31.65

113.95

Correlator

Correlator Modes

The MWAX Correlator has been designed to be flexible with the frequency and time averaging modes available to researchers. Each mode combines a frequency averaging setting and an time averaging setting.

Note

The MWAX software is flexible and is able to handle all available modes, but is limited by the hardware the software runs on. As a result, for any particular MWA configuration of N tiles, not all modes are able to be run in real time.

Frequency:

Fine Channel Width (kHz)

0.2

0.4

0.8

1.0

1.6

2.0

3.2

4.0

5.0

6.4

8.0

10.0

12.8

16.0

20.0

25.6

32.0

40.0

51.2

64.0

80.0

128.0

160.0

256.0

320.0

640.0

1280.0

Number of fine channels per coarse

6400

3200

1600

1280

800

640

400

320

256

200

160

128

100

80

64

50

40

32

25

20

16

10

8

5

4

2

1

Time:

Integration time

(seconds)

0.25

0.50

1.0

2.0

4.0

8.0

Correlator Data Rates

Legend:

The value in each cell is the total of all data from all coarse channels, in gigabytes, generated in 1 second (GB/s). Multiply by the duration of your observation to get total size of your observation in the mode chosen.

Blue cells

Supported

Modes identical to the legacy correlator

Green cells

Supported

Modes which are new to MWA and which are supported

Orange cells

Unsupported

Modes which take much more than 8 seconds to process 8 seconds of input data, or which generate more than 100 Gbp/s (thus not sustainable), and thus not selectable normally

Yellow cells

Limited support

Modes which take more than 8 seconds to process 8 seconds of input data but can be sustained for a limited duration

Info

Note: when in extended / long baseline configuration, most science cases will require the 10 kHz, 0.5 sec mode at a minimum until the fringe stopping feature is enabled

...

unless fringe stopping feature is enabled

Data Rates at 256T

cell values = Total data size (GB/s)

Time Resolution (s)

fscrunch

fine chans

per coarse

fine chan

width kHz

0.25

0.5

1.0

2.0

4.0

8.0

1

1280

0.2

     645.50

     322.75

     161.38

        80.69

        40.34

        20.17

2

640

0.4

     322.75

     161.38

        80.69

        40.34

        20.17

        10.09

4

320

0.8

     161.38

        80.69

        40.34

        20.17

        10.09

          5.04

5

256

1.0

     129.10

        64.55

        32.28

        16.14

          8.07

          4.03

8

160

1.6

        80.69

        40.34

        20.17

        10.09

          5.04

          2.52

10

128

2.0

        64.55

        32.28

        16.14

          8.07

          4.03

          2.02

16

80

3.2

        40.34

        20.17

        10.09

          5.04

          2.52

          1.26

20

64

4.0

        32.28

        16.14

          8.07

          4.03

          2.02

          1.01

25

51.2

5.0

        25.82

        12.91

          6.46

          3.23

          1.61

          0.81

32

40

6.4

        20.17

        10.09

          5.04

          2.52

          1.26

          0.63

40

32

8.0

        16.14

          8.07

          4.03

          2.02

          1.01

          0.50

50

25.6

10.0

        12.91

          6.46

          3.23

          1.61

          0.81

          0.40

64

20

12.8

        10.09

          5.04

          2.52

          1.26

          0.63

          0.32

80

16

16.0

          8.07

          4.03

          2.02

          1.01

          0.50

          0.25

100

12.8

20.0

          6.46

          3.23

          1.61

          0.81

          0.40

          0.20

128

10

25.6

          5.04

          2.52

          1.26

          0.63

          0.32

          0.16

160

8

32.0

          4.03

          2.02

          1.01

          0.50

          0.25

          0.13

200

6.4

40.0

          3.23

          1.61

          0.81

          0.40

          0.20

          0.10

256

5

51.2

          2.52

          1.26

          0.63

          0.32

          0.16

          0.08

320

4

64.0

          2.02

          1.01

          0.50

          0.25

          0.13

          0.06

400

3.2

80.0

          1.61

          0.81

          0.40

          0.20

          0.10

          0.05

640

2

128.0

          1.01

          0.50

          0.25

          0.13

          0.06

          0.03

800

1.6

160.0

          0.81

          0.40

          0.20

          0.10

          0.05

          0.03

1280

1

256.0

          0.50

          0.25

          0.13

          0.06

          0.03

          0.02

1600

0.8

320.0

          0.40

          0.20

          0.10

          0.05

          0.03

          0.01

3200

0.4

640.0

          0.20

          0.10

          0.05

          0.03

          0.01

          0.01

6400

0.2

1,280.0

          0.10

          0.05

          0.03

          0.01

          0.01

          0.00

Data Rates at 152T

cell values = Total data size (GB/s)

Time Resolution (s)

fscrunch

fine chans

per coarse

fine chan

width kHz

0.25

0.5

1.0

2.0

4.0

8.0

1

1280

0.2

     227.87

     113.93

        56.97

28.48

14.24

7.12

2

640

0.4

     113.93

        56.97

        28.48

14.24

7.12

3.56

4

320

0.8

        56.97

        28.48

        14.24

7.12

3.56

1.78

5

256

1.0

        45.57

        22.79

        11.39

5.70

2.85

1.42

8

160

1.6

        28.48

        14.24

7.12

3.56

1.78

0.89

10

128

2.0

        22.79

        11.39

5.70

2.85

1.42

0.71

16

80

3.2

        14.24

7.12

3.56

1.78

0.89

0.45

20

64

4.0

        11.39

5.70

2.85

1.42

0.71

0.36

25

51.2

5.0

9.11

          4.56

2.28

1.14

0.57

0.28

32

40

6.4

7.12

3.56

1.78

0.89

0.45

0.22

40

32

8.0

5.70

2.85

1.42

0.71

0.36

0.18

50

25.6

10.0

4.56

2.28

1.14

0.57

0.28

0.14

64

20

12.8

3.56

1.78

0.89

0.45

0.22

0.11

80

16

16.0

2.85

1.42

0.71

0.36

0.18

0.09

100

12.8

20.0

2.28

1.14

0.57

0.28

0.14

0.07

128

10

25.6

1.78

0.89

0.45

0.22

0.11

0.06

160

8

32.0

1.42

0.71

0.36

0.18

0.09

0.04

200

6.4

40.0

1.14

0.57

0.28

0.14

0.07

0.04

256

5

51.2

0.89

0.45

0.22

0.11

0.06

0.03

320

4

64.0

0.71

0.36

0.18

0.09

0.04

0.02

400

3.2

80.0

0.57

0.28

0.14

0.07

0.04

0.02

640

2

128.0

0.36

0.18

0.09

0.04

0.02

0.01

800

1.6

160.0

0.28

0.14

0.07

0.04

0.02

0.01

1280

1

256.0

0.18

0.09

0.04

0.02

0.01

0.01

1600

0.8

320.0

0.14

0.07

0.04

0.02

0.01

<0.01

3200

0.4

640.0

0.07

0.04

0.02

0.01

<0.01

<0.01

6400

0.2

1,280.0

0.04

0.02

0.01

<0.01

<0.01

<0.01

Data Rates at 144T

cell values = Total data size (GB/s)

Time Resolution (s)

fscrunch

fine chans

per coarse

fine chan

width kHz

0.25

0.5

1.0

2.0

4.0

8.0

1

1280

0.2

204.55

102.28

51.14

25.57

12.78

6.39

2

640

0.4

102.28

51.14

25.57

12.78

6.39

3.20

4

320

0.8

51.14

25.57

12.78

6.39

3.20

1.60

5

256

1.0

40.91

20.46

10.23

5.11

2.56

1.28

8

160

1.6

25.57

12.78

6.39

3.20

1.60

0.80

10

128

2.0

20.46

10.23

5.11

2.56

1.28

0.64

16

80

3.2

12.78

6.39

3.20

1.60

0.80

0.40

20

64

4.0

10.23

5.11

2.56

1.28

0.64

0.32

25

51.2

5.0

8.18

4.09

2.05

1.02

0.51

0.26

32

40

6.4

6.39

3.20

1.60

0.80

0.40

0.20

40

32

8.0

5.11

2.56

1.28

0.64

0.32

0.16

50

25.6

10.0

4.09

2.05

1.02

0.51

0.26

0.13

64

20

12.8

3.20

1.60

0.80

0.40

0.20

0.10

80

16

16.0

2.56

1.28

0.64

0.32

0.16

0.08

100

12.8

20.0

2.05

1.02

0.51

0.26

0.13

0.06

128

10

25.6

1.60

0.80

0.40

0.20

0.10

0.05

160

8

32.0

1.28

0.64

0.32

0.16

0.08

0.04

200

6.4

40.0

1.02

0.51

0.26

0.13

0.06

0.03

256

5

51.2

0.80

0.40

0.20

0.10

0.05

0.02

320

4

64.0

0.64

0.32

0.16

0.08

0.04

0.02

400

3.2

80.0

0.51

0.26

0.13

0.06

0.03

0.02

640

2

128.0

0.32

0.16

0.08

0.04

0.02

0.01

800

1.6

160.0

0.26

0.13

0.06

0.03

0.02

0.01

1280

1

256.0

0.16

0.08

0.04

0.02

0.01

<0.01

1600

0.8

320.0

0.13

0.06

0.03

0.02

0.01

<0.01

3200

0.4

640.0

0.06

0.03

0.02

0.01

<0.01

<0.01

6400

0.2

1,280.0

0.03

0.02

0.01

<0.01

<0.01

<0.01

Data Rates at 136T

cell values = Total data size (GB/s)

Time Resolution (s)

fscrunch

fine chans

per coarse

fine chan

width kHz

0.25

0.5

1.0

2.0

4.0

8.0

1

1280

0.2

182.49

91.25

45.62

22.81

11.41

5.70

2

640

0.4

91.25

45.62

22.81

11.41

5.70

 2.85

4

320

0.8

45.62

22.81

11.41

5.70

2.85

  1.43

5

256

1.0

36.50

18.25

9.12

4.56

2.28

 1.14

8

160

1.6

22.81

11.41

5.70

2.85

1.43

0.71

10

128

2.0

18.25

9.12

4.56

2.28

1.14

0.57

16

80

3.2

11.41

5.70

2.85

1.43

0.71

 0.36

20

64

4.0

9.12

4.56

2.28

1.14

0.57

0.29

25

51.2

5.0

7.30

3.65

1.82

0.91

0.46

0.23

32

40

6.4

5.70

2.85

1.43

0.71

0.36

0.18

40

32

8.0

4.56

2.28

1.14

0.57

0.29

 0.14

50

25.6

10.0

3.65

1.82

0.91

0.46

0.23

0.11

64

20

12.8

2.85

1.43

0.71

0.36

0.18

0.09

80

16

16.0

2.28

1.14

0.57

0.29

0.14

0.07

100

12.8

20.0

1.82

0.91

0.46

0.23

0.11

0.06

128

10

25.6

1.43

0.71

0.36

0.18

0.09

0.04

160

8

32.0

1.14

0.57

0.29

0.14

0.07

0.04

200

6.4

40.0

0.91

0.46

0.23

0.11

0.06

0.03

256

5

51.2

0.71

0.36

0.18

0.09

0.04

0.02

320

4

64.0

0.57

0.29

0.14

0.07

0.04

0.02

400

3.2

80.0

0.46

0.23

0.11

0.06

0.03

0.01

640

2

128.0

0.29

0.14

0.07

0.04

0.02

0.01

800

1.6

160.0

0.23

0.11

0.06

0.03

0.01

0.01

1280

1

256.0

0.14

0.07

0.04

0.02

0.01

<0.01

1600

0.8

320.0

  0.11

  0.06

0.03

0.01

0.01

<0.01

3200

0.4

640.0

0.06

 0.03

0.01

0.01

<0.01

<0.01

6400

0.2

1,280.0

0.03

0.01

0.01

<0.01

<0.01

<0.01

Data Rates at 128T

cell values = Total data size (GB/s)

Time Resolution (s)

fscrunch

fine chans

per coarse

fine chan

width kHz

0.25

0.5

1.0

2.0

4.0

8.0

1

6400

0.2

161.69

80.85

40.42

20.21

10.11

5.05

2

3200

0.4

80.85

40.42

20.21

10.11

5.05

2.53

4

1600

0.8

40.42

20.21

10.11

5.05

2.53

1.26

5

1280

1.0

32.34

16.17

8.08

4.04

2.02

1.01

8

800

1.6

20.21

10.11

5.05

2.53

1.26

0.63

10

640

2.0

16.17

8.08

4.04

2.02

1.01

0.51

16

400

3.2

10.11

5.05

2.53

1.26

0.63

0.32

20

320

4.0

8.08

4.04

2.02

1.01

0.51

0.25

25

256

5.0

6.47

3.23

1.62

0.81

0.40

0.20

32

200

6.4

5.05

2.53

1.26

0.63

0.32

0.16

40

160

8.0

4.04

2.02

1.01

0.51

0.25

0.13

50

128

10.0

3.23

1.62

0.81

0.40

0.20

0.10

64

100

12.8

2.53

1.26

0.63

0.32

0.16

0.08

80

80

16.0

2.02

1.01

0.51

0.25

0.13

0.06

100

64

20.0

1.62

0.81

0.40

0.20

0.10

0.05

128

50

25.6

1.26

0.63

0.32

0.16

0.08

0.04

160

40

32.0

1.01

0.51

0.25

0.13

0.06

0.03

200

32

40.0

0.81

0.40

0.20

0.10

0.05

0.03

256

25

51.2

0.63

0.32

0.16

0.08

0.04

0.02

320

20

64.0

0.51

0.25

0.13

0.06

0.03

0.02

400

16

80.0

0.40

0.20

0.10

0.05

0.03

0.01

640

10

128.0

0.25

0.13

0.06

0.03

0.02

0.01

800

8

160.0

0.20

0.10

0.05

0.03

0.01

0.01

1280

5

256.0

0.13

0.06

0.03

0.02

0.01

0

<0.01

1600

4

320.0

0.10

0.05

0.03

0.01

0.01

0

<0.01

3200

2

640.0

0.05

0.03

0.01

0.01

0

<0.01

0

<0.01

6400

1

1,280.0

0.03

0.01

0.01

0

<0.01

0

<0.01

0

<0.01