The SKA low-frequency telescope: Performance parameters and constraints on the array configuration

The SKA1-LOW radio telescope will be a low-frequency (50-350 MHz) aperture array composed by ~130,000 antenna elements spread over tens of kilometers and located in Western Australia. Its scientific objectives will prioritize studies of the Epoch of Reionization and pulsar physics. This paper will focus on the key performance parameters and constraints driving the architectural design of the World's largest antenna array.