ALMA Work Element 0340 - Phase 2 Science Support


A. Task Description


This task provides scientific support for ALMA development and commissioning, and maintenance of ALMA scientific priorities and goals.


B. Description


As of 2004, one postdoc position is reserved in Chile to assist the ALMA project scientist when he/she moves to Chile. This is charged 50%-50% to NA and Europe.


C. Basis of the budget cost estimate


The costing is level-of-effort. NA effort in 2003 will concentrate on testing of the prototype antennas, using ATF Science personnel augmented by personnel from the AOC as permitted. Imaging and calibration personnel will concentrate on calibration of ALMA, as the configuration will be defined in this period. Theory will be developed which will be applied through total power testing of the antenna, in particular the tradeoffs of nutation vs. fast motion of the antenna, and through testing of the dual load behind the secondary amplitude calibration device. As evaluation activities tail off on the antenna, prototype interferometer testing will build up, taking advantage of the local expertise and instrument-friendly environment to test and qualify ALMA hardware and software. NA Science IPT personnel will be wholly involved in this activity as ALMA prototype equipment is tested and qualified before shipment to the OSF and implementation in Chile. The photonic calibration test developed during ALMA Week will be employed during this period (recall that this is a development of limited polarization and perhaps receiver bandpass calibration using the holography transmitter). During the latter phases of prototype interferometry, the first ALMA receiver cartridges will become available. By this time most system parameters will be well understood, facilitating testing and qualification of the ALMA receivers up through Band 7 before shipping to Chile. Non-astronomical

tests of Band 9 could be carried out on the prototype interferometer. Some testing of the WVR systems could profitably be performed at the prototype interferometer; this needs further

investigation.


Effort of the EU project scientist will initially focus on planning for the EU Regional Support Centers, the transition to Phase II and operations planning. Atmospheric modeling software from Pardo and Cernicharo 'ATM' will be implemented. This model will be confronted with ideas in a proto-memo on accuracy issues in atmospheric modeling,particularly with reference to atmospherically difficult situations, such as calibration through inversion layers. Aurore Bacmann will work with Stephane Guilloteau on bandpass calibration formalisms. Total power simulations at IRAM continue with Jerome Pety and Cambridge group will work on WVR calibration aspects.


D. Questions to the Front End Group


Development of an ALMA version of the dual load calibration system is urgently needed for deployment and testing on the Vertex antenna. The Science IPT will develop proposals for limited joint testing at the ATF as described above.


E. Questions to JAO


During December 2001 meetings in Grenoble, Science IPT manpower was halved, with an expectation that as operations ramps up, it will support scientific needs during the 'Early Science' phases of ALMA Construction. However, these positions are not yet defined (a detailed operations plan including manpower estimates is not yet available). Very few scientists are currently planned for commissioning work in Chile in the early phase, especially in the crucial 2006-2008 years; we propose here to increase this number by redistributing the manpower. Full advantage needs to be taken of the prototype interferometer in 2004-2004, 'borrowing' people from the AOC, with as much commissioning taking place there as is practicable.


Hybrid model six SI scientists five years parallel

Title

Grade

2002

2003

2004

2005

2006

2007

2008

2009

2010

NAScientist

2

-

-

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

EUScientist

2

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

SIPersonA

3

 

X

X

x

x

x

ops

ops

ops

SIPersonB

3

 

X

X

x

x

x

ops

ops

ops

SIPersonC

3

 

 

 

0.5x

x

x

ops

ops

ops

SIPersonD

3

 

 

 

0.5x

x

x

ops

ops

ops

SIPersonE

3

 

 

 

 

x

x

x

x

ops

SIPersonF

3

 

 

 

 

x

x

x

x

ops

NAPersonA

3

X

X

X

X

X

ops

ops

ops

ops

NAPersonB

3

X

X

X

X

X

X

ops

ops

ops

EUPersonA

3

 

X

X

X

X

ops

ops

ops

ops

EUPersonB

3

 

0.7X

X

X

X

X

ops

ops

ops

NAPdocA

4

 

 

0.5x

0.5x

0.5x

x

x

x

ops

NAPdocB

4

 

 

 

 

0.5X

X

X

X

X

EUPdocA

4

 

 

0.5x

0.5x

0.5x

x

x

x

ops

EUPdocB

4

 

 

 

 

0.5X

X

X

X

X

Totals-Const

 

3

6.7

9

10

14

14

9

8

4


Totals-Ops

 

 

 

 

 

 

2

7

8

12

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 X=NA/EU

 x=Chile

 gr 2 LOE 2 months 90 budgeted 108

 gr3 LOE 2 months 106.2 budgeted 108

 gr3 SI LOE 4 months 64 budgeted 60

          (but 2FTE 2yrs at ATF, not Santiago)

 gr4 LOE 4 months 60 budgeted 60

             where X for NA signifies a person at the prototype interferometer; some

             of these people migrate to Chile in mid-2005 to replicate

             qualification/verification of equipment on the prototype interferometer

             in Chile, where they are joined by two new hires as antennas, receivers

             and other equipment arrives in the latter part of 2005.

As commissioning ramps up in 2006, two new hires join them. As EarlyScience commences in 2007, operations personnel begin replacing construction personnel, with some construction personnel remaining to commission instrumentation until late in 2010. Since Wootten is a 2002/3/? in-kind contribution, there is a savings of at least his 2002 budget, and perhaps more. We have used this year to supply some of the excess in the SI budget.


Materials to be added;

budget includes scientific meeting support (ALMA conference in 2004),but not ASAC travel support. Site characterization and monitoring budget divided evenly over the cost of the project.