The future of VLBI has begun!

TL;DR

The paper discusses the advancements and future prospects of electronic VLBI (e-VLBI), emphasizing its integration into standard operations, its role as a SKA pathfinder, and potential enhancements in sensitivity and efficiency.

Contribution

It reviews recent progress in e-VLBI, explores options for improving VLBI capabilities, and discusses future developments including new correlators and operational strategies.

Findings

e-VLBI has achieved significant progress in the last three years

All VLBI operations may transition to e-VLBI mode in the future

New technologies like NEXPReS will further enhance e-VLBI operations

Abstract

With the exceptional progress e-VLBI has achieved over the last three years, the VLBI of the future has already started. At least for the EVN, it is argued that at some point all VLBI operations should be done in e-VLBI mode. This ambition is based on the scientific case that is described in the EVN2015 science vision. At the same time, it should be taken into account that the long-term future of radio astronomy is connected to the development of the SKA. The consensus in the community is that there is a scientific case for Very Long Baseline Interferometry in the next decade, and synergy with the technology development for the SKA and its pathfinders should be explored to enhance the VLBI capabilities. It is noteworthy that e- VLBI has been recognised as a SKA pathfinder. Here, I review the progress with e-VLBI, and the options to enhance the sensitivity and operational efficiency of the EVN and global VLBI arrays, including the options for future correlators. In the coming years, through the new NEXPReS effort, new ways are about to get introduced to enhance e-VLBI operations further to the level that all experiments can benefit from an e-VLBI component.