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Science Operations

Discover the recent advancements and improvements in visitor services, computing infrastructure, scientific computing, telescope operations, including ATCA, Parkes, Mopra, Tidbinbilla, LBA.

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Science Operations

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  1. Science Operations CSIRO ASTRONOMY & SPACE SCIENCE Phil Edwards 11 July 2012 Space for collaborator logos [delete instructions before use]

  2. Outline • Visitor Services Group • Computing Infrastructure • Scientific Computing & Archives • Telescope Operations & Science Services • Parkes • ATCA • Mopra • Tidbinbilla • Long Baseline Array Sci Ops | Page 2

  3. Visitor Services Group • Marsfield Lodge upgrades • kitchen repainted and refloored • all bedrooms repainted • external window shutters on all rooms • quieter bathroom fans installed • soundproofing membrane added to all adjoining bedroom walls • sealed doors for all bedrooms (yet to be completed) • matting on walkways for noise reduction • Consideration of Marsfield Lodge priority for SOC users • Successful annual meeting of VSG in May Sci Ops | Page 3

  4. Computing Infrastructure • Rearrangement of disk storage at Marsfield • Parkes network upgrade completed • Narrabri “temporary” fibre repair work still in effect • Linux High-Availability, two server clusters for on-line observing servers • New observing machines & 30” monitors for ATCA & Mopra • SOC preparations Sci Ops | Page 4

  5. Scientific Computing & Archives • Parkes • RAPT project underway • pySPOT operational • Improved compressor monitoring & alarms • Pulsar data archive moved to disk • ATCA: 16cm (“L/S”) and 4cm (“C/X”) attenuator control added • Mopra: MoniCA alerts implemented, including Genset control • ATOA:  MALT-90 2011 data & CMZ data products added • ASKAP integration into operations: wiki, source code repositories, build systems, ASKAPsoft use for CABB data, look at use of ASKAPsoft components for CAOBS replacement Sci Ops | Page 5

  6. ATCA Data Reduction • ATCA datasets, esp. multi-zoom-band observations, are big! • The Marsfield machines hydra, draco, & serpens are available to all users for data reduction • Diskspace can be reserved for large datasets • http://www.atnf.csiro.au/computing/bookings/ • Miriad support  for large (>8GB) scratch files and large image cubes has improved • spectral coordinate handling updated to WCS standards (and WCSLIB: v. 4.13.1 released) • Recent Miriad changes are described in updates on ATCA forum Sci Ops | Page 6

  7. ATCA 16cm data reduction • Is there a standard procedure for dealing with the wide 1.1—3.1 GHz BW and getting good quality information on the radio structure, spectral index and polarisation? • Careful choice of tvchan range when observing is important for valid Tsys measurements, but it is possible to recover from bad Tsys. • Pgflag has been upgraded to include an automatic flagger based on the 'SumThreshold' algorithm used by LOFAR. This algorithm is quite effective at quickly removing RFI at 16cm. • A polarisation calibration memo is nearing completion. • A better determination of the 16cm beam shape is in progress. • Discussion, debate, and tips at http://atcaforum.atnf.csiro.au • RFI characterisation and subtraction under investigation Sci Ops | Page 7

  8. Telescope Operations & Science Services • Figures are allocations as initially scheduled and do not take into account subsequent allocations of Director’s (“green”) time. • Emails to all ATCA, Parkes, Mopra & LBA users with recent updates • New (user friendly) ATCA sensitivity calculator Sci Ops | Page 8

  9. Parkes • Reduced number of receiver changes planned in 2012OCT. Proposers advised MB20, 10/50, and H-OH receivers are expected will be available in the 2012 OCT semester, with the availability of other receivers driven by proposal pressure. • Highly graded proposals requesting a receiver that is not installed in the focus cabin in 2012 OCT will be reconsidered for scheduling in the 2013 APR semester with the same grade, without the need to resubmit the proposal. Teams will be notified after the scheduling process is complete, if this applies to their proposal. • “ATUC encourages CASS to be mindful of the effects of minimal receiver changes on LBA requirements.” Sci Ops | Page 9

  10. ATCA • Scheduling for 12APR better accommodates changes to the 1MHz zoom mode and DA training • 64 MHz CABB mode has 1 zoom per IF. Call for proposals advises multi-zoom mode expected by beginning of 2012OCT • Many recent improvements to CABB usability • WVRs installed – commissioning and integration continuing • Flux density calibration checks with EVLA & WMAP indicate flux density scales agree to < 5% • ATCA & Miriad user guides – are print or html versions more widely used? • The current currency requirements for remote observing are not sufficient… Sci Ops | Page 10

  11. Qualifying for ATCA remote observing • It is clear the current requirements are not sufficient, which has led to the suggestion of a points-based qualification system. An example might be that 100 points are needed to qualify, and: • Been DA in the last 6 months: +100 points • Been DA 6 – 12 months ago: +80 points • Observed from Narrabri in last 6 months: +30 points per observation • Observed from Narrabri in last 6 – 12 months: +20 points per observation • Observed remotely in last 6 months: +10 points per observation • Observed remotely in last 6 – 12 months: + 5 points per observation • Completed observer feedback form: +10 points • Submitted (non-trivial) Fault Report: +10 points • Contributed to ATCA forum: +10 points • Submitted rem obs request < 2 weeks in advance: - 10 points Sci Ops | Page 11

  12. Comparing the New Scale to ATCA • Calibration of the Jan 2012 data is ongoing. We show below the comparison from Dec 2010. • The ATCA-VLA scales appear to be the same to within the errors, except perhaps at 28 GHz.

  13. Mopra • The Mopra call for expressions of interest, released in November 2011, solicited interest in operating the Mopra beyond October 2012. • “ATUC urges CASS to determine all PhD students who will be adversely affected by the closure of Mopra and ensure that these students and their supervisors are fully aware of the imminent closure so that they can make alternate plans.” Sci Ops | Page 13

  14. Presentation title | Presenter name | Page 14

  15. Tidbinbilla • The 70-m will be unavailable for 7 months from the middle of November 2012 due to maintenance downtime • A new 4-channel K-band receiver and down-converter system has been installed on the 70m. This system supports two simultaneous beams per polarisation (four beams in total) between 21 GHz and 25 GHz. • Development of on-the-fly mapping for spectral line observations is ongoing. Currently, a pipeline has been set up to utilize python scripted ASAP/gridzilla/miriad to generate maps from spectral line fits of grids of pointed observations. • Tidbinbilla usage in 2011 was 260hr single dish, 160hr vacation student & Honours projects, 150hr LBA observations. Sci Ops | Page 15

  16. Long Baseline Array • Record number of LBA proposals in 2012APR, oversubscription correspondingly high • Mopra 6cm/3cm (“C/X”) band receiver removed in May 2012 to enable ATCA 4cm upgrade to proceed with 6 antennas available at all times • “ATUC urges CASS to continue supporting VLBI observations with Mopra.” The Mopra call for Expressions of Interest noted that “CSIRO wishes to retain a level of access to Mopra for the Long Baseline Array (LBA) as part of any new operating arrangement” • RadioAstron satellite launched in July 2011, with CSIRO RadioPhysics supplied 18cm receiver on-board. Fringe-test observations with LBA elements in April and May 2012 Sci Ops | Page 16

  17. Observing time (in hrs) by year and band

  18. Thank you • CASS/ATNF Phil EdwardsHead of Science Operations t +61 2 9372 4717 E philip.edwards@csiro.au w www.atnf.csiro.au • CSIRO ASTRONOMY & SPACE SCIENCE

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