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 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, or 1.6384 MHz when in oversampling mode).
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.

Oversampled=”No” has 1.28 MHz channels, 0.781 μs critically sampled.

Oversampled=”Yes” has 1.6384 MHz channels, 0.781 μs oversampled channels.

Rows in blue represent the VCS options available in semester 2025A.

		1 Channel		24 Channels
Tiles	Oversampled	GB/s	TB/hr	GB/s	TB/hr
128	No	0.66	2.37	15.83	56.98
128	Yes	0.84	3.04	20.26	72.93
136	No	0.70	2.52	16.82	60.54
144	No	0.74	2.67	17.81	64.10
152	No	0.78	2.82	18.79	67.66
160	No	0.82	2.97	19.78	71.22
168	No	0.87	3.12	20.77	74.78
176	No	0.91	3.26	21.76	78.34
184	No	0.95	3.41	22.75	81.90
192	No	0.99	3.56	23.74	85.47
200	No	1.03	3.71	24.73	89.03
208	No	1.07	3.86	25.72	92.59
216	No	1.11	4.01	26.71	96.15
224	No	1.15	4.15	27.70	99.71
232	No	1.20	4.30	28.69	103.27
240	No	1.24	4.45	29.68	106.83
248	No	1.28	4.60	30.66	110.39
256	No	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.

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

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

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	<0.01
1600	4	320.0	0.10	0.05	0.03	0.01	0.01	<0.01
3200	2	640.0	0.05	0.03	0.01	0.01	<0.01	<0.01
6400	1	1,280.0	0.03	0.01	0.01	<0.01	<0.01	<0.01

Data Rates at 184T

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	333.72	166.86	83.43	41.72	20.86	10.43
2	3200	0.4	166.86	83.43	41.72	20.86	10.43	5.21
4	1600	0.8	83.43	41.72	20.86	10.43	5.21	2.61
5	1280	1.0	66.74	33.37	16.69	8.34	4.17	2.09
8	800	1.6	41.72	20.86	10.43	5.21	2.61	1.30
10	640	2.0	33.37	16.69	8.34	4.17	2.09	1.04
16	400	3.2	20.86	10.43	5.21	2.61	1.30	0.65
20	320	4.0	16.69	8.34	4.17	2.09	1.04	0.52
25	256	5.0	13.35	6.67	3.34	1.67	0.83	0.42
32	200	6.4	10.43	5.21	2.61	1.30	0.65	0.33
40	160	8.0	8.34	4.17	2.09	1.04	0.52	0.26
50	128	10.0	6.67	3.34	1.67	0.83	0.42	0.21
64	100	12.8	5.21	2.61	1.30	0.65	0.33	0.16
80	80	16.0	4.17	2.09	1.04	0.52	0.26	0.13
100	64	20.0	3.34	1.67	0.83	0.42	0.21	0.10
128	50	25.6	2.61	1.30	0.65	0.33	0.16	0.08
160	40	32.0	2.09	1.04	0.52	0.26	0.13	0.07
200	32	40.0	1.67	0.83	0.42	0.21	0.10	0.05
256	25	51.2	1.30	0.65	0.33	0.16	0.08	0.04
320	20	64.0	1.04	0.52	0.26	0.13	0.07	0.03
400	16	80.0	0.83	0.42	0.21	0.10	0.05	0.03
640	10	128.0	0.52	0.26	0.13	0.07	0.03	0.02
800	8	160.0	0.42	0.21	0.10	0.05	0.03	0.01
1280	5	256.0	0.26	0.13	0.07	0.03	0.02	0.01
1600	4	320.0	0.21	0.10	0.05	0.03	0.01	0.01
3200	2	640.0	0.10	0.05	0.03	0.01	0.01	<0.01
6400	1	1,280.0	0.05	0.03	0.01	0.01	<0.01	<0.01

Data Rates at 200T

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	394.20	197.10	98.55	49.27	24.64	12.32
2	3200	0.4	197.10	98.55	49.27	24.64	12.32	6.16
4	1600	0.8	98.55	49.27	24.64	12.32	6.16	3.08
5	1280	1.0	78.84	39.42	19.71	9.85	4.93	2.46
8	800	1.6	49.27	24.64	12.32	6.16	3.08	1.54
10	640	2.0	39.42	19.71	9.85	4.93	2.46	1.23
16	400	3.2	24.64	12.32	6.16	3.08	1.54	0.77
20	320	4.0	19.71	9.85	4.93	2.46	1.23	0.62
25	256	5.0	15.77	7.88	3.94	1.97	0.99	0.49
32	200	6.4	12.32	6.16	3.08	1.54	0.77	0.38
40	160	8.0	9.85	4.93	2.46	1.23	0.62	0.31
50	128	10.0	7.88	3.94	1.97	0.99	0.49	0.25
64	100	12.8	6.16	3.08	1.54	0.77	0.38	0.19
80	80	16.0	4.93	2.46	1.23	0.62	0.31	0.15
100	64	20.0	3.94	1.97	0.99	0.49	0.25	0.12
128	50	25.6	3.08	1.54	0.77	0.38	0.19	0.10
160	40	32.0	2.46	1.23	0.62	0.31	0.15	0.08
200	32	40.0	1.97	0.99	0.49	0.25	0.12	0.06
256	25	51.2	1.54	0.77	0.38	0.19	0.10	0.05
320	20	64.0	1.23	0.62	0.31	0.15	0.08	0.04
400	16	80.0	0.99	0.49	0.25	0.12	0.06	0.03
640	10	128.0	0.62	0.31	0.15	0.08	0.04	0.02
800	8	160.0	0.49	0.25	0.12	0.06	0.03	0.02
1280	5	256.0	0.31	0.15	0.08	0.04	0.02	0.01
1600	4	320.0	0.25	0.12	0.06	0.03	0.02	0.01
3200	2	640.0	0.12	0.06	0.03	0.02	0.01	<0.01
6400	1	1,280.0	0.06	0.03	0.02	0.01	<0.01	<0.01

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