High Fidelity and Dynamic Range Imaging with MeerKAT Radio Telescope

MeerKAT is a state-of-the-art radio telescope located in South Africa that has been in operation since 2018. It is a second-generation radio telescope and a precursor to the future Square Kilometer Array (SKA), which will be the largest and most sensitive radio telescope in the world. MeerKAT comprises 64 dish antennas operating at S (1750–3499 MHz), L (856–1711 MHz), and UHF (544–1087 MHz) bands. MeerKAT is a powerful instrument capable of producing high-fidelity and dynamic range images of large, extended, and diffuse radio sources, with unprecedented resolution and sensitivity. In this talk, we will explore the data analysis pipeline, third-generation calibration, and advanced imaging techniques used for MeerKAT observations. We will showcase some of the latest images produced by MeerKAT, highlighting the rich detail and resolution achieved in these images. Additionally, we will discuss the potential applications of MeerKAT’s imaging capabilities in various areas of astrophysics, including the galactic center, radio galaxies, halos and relics of galaxy clusters, and superclusters.