›SKA VLBI Key Science Projects and Operations Workshop

The Square Kilometre Array (SKA) will deploy its first phase telescopes in the mid-2020s. SKA1-low (50-350 MHz) and SKA1-mid (0.35-15.3[24.0] GHz) will have maximum baseline lengths of about 65km and 150 km, respectively. Some of the highest priority science objectives defined by the SKA Organisation - together with the science working groups - however require an angular resolution that can only be reached by current very long baseline interferometry (VLBI) networks, or the full SKA with baselines extending to thousands of km. To exploit the full potentials of the first phase SKA components for very high resolution applications, it has been proposed to coherently phase-up the core of SKA1-LOW and SKA1-MID, and make these powerful telescopes available for global VLBI observations.

The aim of the workshop is to introduce the VLBI capabilities and observing modes of the SKA to the community, and present the latest results in the SKA high priority science areas where VLBI will make an impact. We will discuss ideas and possible strategies for major SKA-VLBI Key Science observing programmes, and the impact of global VLBI observations for astronomical research in the future in general. In addition, we will seek input regarding the SKA-VLBI requirements for the future SKA Regional Centres.