Charge to ASAC Meeting September 2003

Finalised 11 August 2003.

The ASAC is requested to consider the following topics, and make
appropriate recommendations to the Board:

a) It is technically very challenging to achieve the current amplitude
   calibration goals (1%/3% below/above 300GHz), and the specifications
   on total power stability (currently 10-4 over 1 second, 3x 10-3 over
   5 minutes, 5x 10-4 over 5 minutes on the differential gain of two
   polarizations, specifications which can have significant impact on
   cost and schedule.  Can the ASAC provide measures of the scientific
   impact of relaxing the calibration, stability and polarization
   specifications to varying degrees?

b) The plans for, and draft of, the ALMA Design Reference Science Plan,
   and its usefulness, completeness and level of detail.

c) There may be scientifically important reasons to allow
   P.I. instruments on one, or a small number, of the ALMA telescopes.
   What would be the impact on the ALMA science if these telescopes were
   taken out of the normal array operation?  It would be especially
   helpful if the ASAC can provide some specific guidelines for this
   process, such as the maximum number of telescopes (including zero)
   which could to be taken out of the array, and the condition under
   which this can be allowed.