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Lessons learned from cm-wave interferometry

Lessons learned from cm-wave interferometry. Interferometry analysis is less straightforward than single aperture analysis. Astronomers need ‘support’. Need access to a skilled group of users/support scientists. Need skilled personnel to answer e-mail/phone questions in the same timezone .

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Lessons learned from cm-wave interferometry

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  1. Lessons learned from cm-wave interferometry • Interferometry analysis is less straightforward than single aperture analysis. • Astronomers need ‘support’. Need access to a skilled group of users/support scientists. • Need skilled personnel to answer e-mail/phone questions in the same timezone. • New users need physical access to a ‘centre’ – not a network. • Experienced users will use a centre at intervals to ‘top-up’ their knowledge, talk to instrument experts, learn about new software and new techniques. • Users require easily accessible archive • Useful to have software development remote from the telescope

  2. Role of an ALMA Regional Support Centre • Proposal assistance • Advice on scientific/technical capabilities of ALMA • Preparation assistance; receipt of proposals, distribution for review; liaison with TAC • Offer support for phase 2 proposal preparation • Imaging and analysis – provision of high-level computing resources • Image generated by pipeline is not the final image. User may change FOV, spatial resolution, spectral resolution……… • Will need to perform image analysis, extract the science etc. • The archive (U.Man/UMIST/ESO developing ALMA archive) • Will maintain a copy of, and control access to, the archive • Provide long-term array quality control via user feedback • Access to archive via AVO • Developments • Should be the focus for software development: archives, pipelines etc • No fire-fighting, able to take longer term view of software development • Training/EPO • Schools, outreach, newsletters etc.

  3. UK Expression of interest • UK ALMA SAC suggested Manchester (JBO) as RSC location • Experience: • ~20 years experience of interferometric user support • Enormous experience of interferometry software (closure phase, self-cal, difference mapping, AIPS calibration) • mm-wave experience, strong connection with U.Cam, UMIST, ROE, ATC etc groups + European groups • Developing generic radio archive (ALMA, AVO). Collaboration with NRAO. e-MERLIN will produce 0.5TB/day, parallel processing. • Member of aips++ consortium • Strong record of training astronomers thru interferometry schools etc. • Strong JBO-ALMA link : archive, fibre optics, data transmission • Infrastructure: • e-MERLIN success / merger with UMIST  new building • e-MERLIN  massive GRID (AstroGRID) presence with fibre-optic connections • Easy communications with Europe, 20 mins from major airport • Combine ALMA RSC with e-MERLIN support centre and possibly SKA

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