The Deep Synoptic Array (DSA): Revolutionizing Access to the Radio Sky

Fabian Walter presents the Deep Synoptic Array, a Nevada radio survey telescope within the Eric and Wendy Schmidt Observatory System, with major surveys planned from 2029. Operating across 0.7–2 GHz, its design combines inexpensive antennas and ambient-temperature receivers with a digital radio camera that produces images in real time. The programme targets approximately 31,000 square degrees at 500 nJy, aiming to detect a billion star-forming galaxies and active supermassive black holes while measuring neutral-hydrogen properties in millions of galaxies. Time-domain goals include roughly 100,000 fast radio bursts, more than 20,000 new pulsars, about a million image-plane transients and multi-year timing of 200 pulsars for nanohertz gravitational-wave studies. The talk connects these capabilities to multimessenger astronomy, cosmic history, time-domain astrophysics and the dark sector, including synergies with other all-sky surveys.