We present the specifications of the MeerKAT Karoo Array Telescope, the South African Square Kilometre Array Precursor. Some of the key science for MeerKAT is described in this document. We invite the community to submit proposals for Large Key Projects.
In a study of the radio emission mechanism of the FR-I AGN NGC 5128 (Centaurus A)}, we have determined the centimeter and millimeter continuum spectrum of the whole Centaurus A radio source and measured the continuum emission from the active galxy nu
cleus at various times between 1989 and 2005 at frequencies between 86 GHz (3.5 mm) and 345 GHz (0.85 mm). The integral Cen A spectrum becomes steeper at frequencies above 5 GHz, where the spectral index changes from -0.70 to -0.82. Millimeter emission from the core of Centaurus A is variable, and correlates appreciably better with the 20-200 keV than the 2 - 10 keV X-ray variability. In its quiescent state, the core spectral index is -0.3, which steepens when the core brightens. The variability appears to be mostly associated with the inner nuclear jet components that have been detected in VLBI measurements. The densest nuclear components are optically thick below 45-80 GHz.
