COSMIC: An Ethernet-based Commensal, Multimode Digital Backend on the Karl G. Jansky Very Large Array for the Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence
Chenoa D. Tremblay, S. S. Varghese, J. Hickish, Paul B. Demorest, Cherry Ng, Andrew Siemion, Daniel Czech, R. A. Donnachie, Wael Farah, Vishal Gajjar, Matt Lebofsky, David H. E. MacMahon, Talon Myburgh, M. Ruzindana, Joe Bright, Alan Erickson, Kevin Lacker
Abstract
Abstract The primary goal of the search for extraterrestrial intelligence is to gain an understanding of the prevalence of technologically advanced beings (organic or inorganic) in the Galaxy. One way to approach this is to look for technosignatures: remotely detectable indicators of technology, such as temporal or spectral electromagnetic emissions consistent with an artificial source. With the new Commensal Open-Source Multimode Interferometer Cluster (COSMIC) digital backend on the Karl G. Jansky Very Large Array (VLA), we aim to conduct a search for technosignatures that is significantly more comprehensive, sensitive, and efficient than previously attempted. The COSMIC system is currently operational on the VLA, recording data and designed with the flexibility to provide user-requested modes. This paper describes the hardware system design, the current software pipeline, and plans for future development.