Minutes drafted by P. Shaver, modified by A. Wootten
Participants: R. Bachiller, G. Blake, R. Booth, P. Cox, R. Crutcher, N. Evans, S. Guilloteau, M. Gurwell, T. Hasegawa, J. Mangum, D. Mardones, J. Richer, S. Sakamoto, P. Shaver, K. Tatematsu, E. van Dishoeck, D. Wilner, C. Wilson, A. Wootten, S. Yamamoto, M. Yun
The proposed agenda was adopted, and the minutes of the last teleconference were accepted.
1) Status Report
a) Project update and ACC meeting
S. Guilloteau reported on the October ACC meeting in Santiago. Significant progress has been made in negotiations with Chile, and these issues may soon be settled. Following a closed session concerning the JAO, it was proposed that the interim appointments be extended until 1 April 2002. A presentation was made on configurations, and the group was requested to prepare a report on the cost/configuration trade-offs. The ACC report presented by P. Cox was well received and generated considerable discussion. The plans for the future ASAC were discussed. At the moment it will continue as is. There was discussion about AIPS++ and the recent changes (see below). P. Cox will distribute the final ASAC report.
b) AIPS++ Changes
A. Wootten summarized the recent changes in the AIPS++ management. ALMA has been given top priority in AIPS++ activities. Joe McMullin has taken over leadership from Athol Kemball. Steve Myers will become Project Scientist. Tim Cornwell will assume interim responsibility for leading the ALMA pipeline efforts. Kumar will assume responsibility for this as the project evolves.
2) Science IPT organization A. Wootten outlined recent developments in the Science IPT, which is undergoing considerable development at present. Several milestones have been set, with emphasis on configurations, calibration and imaging. Other areas include site characterization, SSR, operations and verification, and web and outreach activities. S. Guilloteau said that ASAC input would be helpful, especially in deciding specifications for amplitude calibration, bandpass calibration etc. He will send a summary of key specifications to ASAC members, who are requested to send input (science examples) to J. Richer and C. Wilson. T. Hasegawa provided nominations for IPT members from Japan: Y. Fukui, S. Yamamoto and M. Momose.
3) Site Infrastructure and Transporter Reviews A. Wootten reported on the recent meeting held in Tucson on 22-24 October on these subjects. It was an opportunity to provide science requirements and operations requirements. The presentations are all available on the web. A report from the meeting will be reviewed after the AMAC meeting in Socorro 22-23 January 2003. Site construction should start in October 2003. At the meeting M. Krauss had presented a report on the transporter concept. He and J. Conway have iterated on the transporter properties vs. the configuration (pad locations). The design will go to industry at the end of the year for detailed studies. There will be two transporters. A crew of eleven will be capable of moving four antennas per day. The impact of such moves on the operation of other antennas and configuration changes has been completely taken into account.
4) Upcoming Meetings A review of the backends (particularly the photonic systems) will take place on 19-21 November, and in the second part of that week there will be a meeting on frontends. C. Cunningham would like to have final specifications. E. van Dishoeck commented that these will take considerable iteration.
E. van Dishoeck outlined the various aspects of the upcoming meeting in Leiden on 18-20 December. It provides an opportunity for the European IPT members to get together, to have overlapping meetings with the HiFi consortium (particularly on calibration issues), and to plan the proposals for the EU. The latter will apply for funds for network activities, infrastructure, and additional construction funding. E. van Dishoeck also summarized the plan for the Science Operations Meeting taking place on 8 November in Garching. It will update and inform the European astronomical community about the ALMA project, and there will be discussions on various European issues, such as the European RSC and the EU proposals.
C. Wilson mentioned the software meetings in Garching on 9-11 December. There will be a series of short meetings on various subsystems. There will be internal PDRs, the formal PDRs to come a few months later. The SSR will meet on 12 December.
Concerning the composition of the future ASAC, C. Wilson suggested that the present composition of the ASAC be maintained until the new ALMA Board provides instructions (the Board cannot be officially established until the Bilateral Agreement is signed, which may still be some months away). S. Yamamoto requested that M. Momose be added to the present ASAC; an e-mail on this will be sent to C. Wilson.
There was brief discussion of the next face-to-face ASAC meeting. P. Cox said that a Board meeting is planned for 26/27 May 2002, so the ASAC meeting could be held in early April. C. Wilson asked that input on this be sent to A. Wootten by e-mail. P. Cox proposed that the next face-to-face meeting be held at IRAM. He will discuss this with IRAM management, and C. Wilson asked that any other input on this topic be sent to her by e-mail.
5) AOB A. Wootten reported that the U.S. prototype is close to completion; all but seven panels have been installed, and the prototype should be turned over to the project in early December. R. Booth asked about the European prototype. It was said to be proceeding well; C. Wilson will ask for a report at the next telecon.
6) Next teleconference The next ASAC teleconference will take place on Wednesday 4 December at 15:30 UT.
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