From April 2 to April 28, 2018, two employees of the Ventspils University of Applied Sciences (VUAS) Engineering Research Institution Ventspils International Radio Astronomy Centre (ERI VIRAC) were a part of the training course in Dwingeloo, the Netherlands. The VIRAC employees within the framework of BALTICS project joined staff exchange training at ASTRON 3 “LOFAR hardware” organised by ASTRON, the Netherlands Institute for Radio Astronomy.

The main task during the traineeship was to learn more about the structure and operational principles of the low-frequency array (LOFAR). The tasks to be executed also included the maintenance of several LOFAR stations throughout the Netherlands (also called core stations) as well as an international station DE609 in Hamburg, Germany. While executing these tasks VIRAC employees mastered LOFAR station’s standard maintenance tasks with the assistance from their supervisors – ASTRON engineers Menno Norden and Henri Meulman. In addition, employees gained valuable experience while debugging various hardware-related problems. Also, radiofrequency interference (RFI) measurements were performed at DE609 and CS003 stations in order to compare RFI at Hamburg station with the Netherlands “SUPERTERP” (core station centre). These measurements, therefore, would allow comparing RFI at VIRAC radio telescope complex in Irbene. During the traineeship, VIRAC employees studied the functionality of high band array (HBA) controller, demonstrated their knowledge by debugging HBA portable controller (HBA-PC) software, and added to its functionality three-dimensional beam shaping function. Furthermore, VIRAC employees made a list with several comments and suggestions that could be useful for ASTRON employees in order to develop the next HBA-PC version. This version potentially could be passed on to all LOFAR stations. VIRAC employees also attended the International LOFAR Telescope Operations (ILTO) meeting. During this meeting, they gained valuable information about the daily problems of LOFAR station maintainer.

During their traineeship, VIRAC employees also were introduced to ASTRON’s general activities. VIRAC employees throughout their traineeship worked under the supervision of ASTRON’s engineer Menno Norden. They were provided with a convenient working space right next to their supervisor and consultant that allowed performing their duties conveniently and smoothly.

As a result of their traineeship, VIRAC employees strengthened their existing knowledge while also acquiring new knowledge in electronics, programming, LOFAR operations, and hardware:

Maintenance of LOFAR stations;

Structure of LOFAR hardware;

Debugging of LOFAR hardware;

Phase array antenna beam shaping;

Microcontroller programming (teensyduino);

Performing RFI measurements;

International LOFAR Telescope technology and science.