A decade of sub-arcsecond imaging with the International LOFAR Telescope

• DOI: 10.48550/arxiv.2502.06946
• Publication Date: 2025-02-10
• Authors: L. K. Morabito; N. Jackson; J. M. G. H. J. de...; Emmy Escott; C. Grœneveld; V. H. Mahatma; James Petley; Frits Sweijen; R. Timmerman; R. J. van Weeren
• Keywords: LOFAR

The International LOFAR Telescope (ILT) is a pan-European radio interferometer with baselines up to 2,000 km. This provides sub-arcsecond resolution at frequencies of <200 MHz. Since starting science operations in 2012, the ILT has carried out observations for state-of-the-art Two-metre Sky Survey, which 6 arcsec 144 Wide-area surveys low frequencies, while scientifically productive, have compromise on resolution. Sub-arcsecond imaging become more accessible over last decade, thanks efforts build publicly available pipeline using LOFAR-specific tools, resulted dramatic increase number publications. ILT's combination resolution, field view, and observing frequency make it unique instrument wide range scientific applications, will remain unparalleled even era Square Kilometre Array Observatory. Here we provide an overview technical considerations calibration methods ILT. followed by review capabilities unlocked ILT, examples from literature demonstration. Finally describe ongoing work including: surveying large areas sky high going deeper fields excellent ancillary information, producing images polarisation, extending lower (<100 MHz).