Karoo Array Telescope: Lightning protection issues and RFI

A computational electromagnetic (CEM) code and a reduced scale model were used to characterize the design of the Karoo Array Telescope (MeerKAT), South Africa's demonstrator for the Square Kilometer Array (SKA). Different excitation techniques were used in the CEM code and are compared to actual scale model measurements in an anechoic chamber. With verified computational modeling, the optimized lightning down conductor layout and earth termination system interconnections were investigated, keeping cost and RFI in mind.