Architecture

Overview

Each deployed instance of the PST (Pulsar Timing Signal Processor) processes a single, dual-polarisation, oversampled, tied-array beam (from here on, simply referred to as a “beam”) formed in one of the SKA1 beamformers (CSP_Mid.CBF or CSP_Low.CBF), producing data products for use in one of the SKA1 Science Data Processors (SDP_Mid or SDP_Low). The type of data product generated by the PST depends on its configuration; currently, the following four PST processing modes will be supported:

  1. Voltage Recorder (Array Assembly 0.5);

  2. Flow Through (Array Assembly 1.0);

  3. Detected Filterbank (Array Assembly 2.0);

  4. Pulsar Timing (Array Assembly 3.0).

The processing mode for each beam is independently configured; therefore, multiple PST instances are capable of producing multiple different types of data product simultaneously.

Software Components

The PST is composed of the following sub-components; the links in this list lead to the documentation for each component:

  • COMMON – Common elements used by PST components

  • LMC – Local Monitoring and Control

  • RECV – High-speed data acquisition

  • SMRB – Shared memory ring buffer manager

  • DSP – Digital signal processing pipelines

  • STAT – Incoming data quality statistics monitor

  • SEND – Output data collation, curation and archival

Artefacts

All PST software components are built and packaged into artefacts. The software binaries are published as OCI images and their deployment configurations are published as Helm artefacts.

OCI IMAGES

OCI Image Name

OCI Image Registry

ska-pst-lmc

artefact.skao.int/ska-pst-lmc

ska-pst-core

artefact.skao.int/ska-pst-core

ska-pst-send

artefact.skao.int/ska-pst-send

Helm Charts

The ska-pst is an chart consisting of ska-pst-core and ska-pst-lmc applications. See the Helm Chart Overview for further information.