Forecast for Epoch-of-Reionization as viewable by the PrimevAl Structure Telescope (PAST)

Abstract

We present sensitivity forecasts for the PAST 21cm reionization observations and compare these with the measured sensitivity of a prototype array. We discuss the likely epoch-of-reionization structures and the redshifts that can be observed, and conclude that a 10,000 antenna PAST will be able to image ionized structures with its 1 million pixel map at 6<z<20. The angular scales of the images to be produced span from 5 arc minutes to 10 degrees. The effect of potential foreground contaminants are analyzed. All known extra-terrestial foregrounds have power law continuum spectra, and can be modeled and cleanly separated. We present results of observations using the prototype, which verify the estimated sensitivities and provide data on astronomical foregrounds. The same sample allows real-world measurement of man-made interference, of meteor scatter propagation, and of ionospheric variation. These data are also used to verify our large angle map making algorithms.