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


Beginning in 2004 in the 2002 plan, one postdoc position is reserved in Chile to assist the ALMA project scientist when he/she moves to Chile. This position has been eliminated.


C. Basis of the budget cost estimate


<>The costing is level-of-effort. Effort in 2005 will concentrate on testing of the prototype antennas, using NA Science personnel augmented by personnel from EU. Imaging and calibration personnel will concentrate on calibration of ALMA, as the configuration has been defined. Theory which has been 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 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. 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.  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 elucidation.

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 to be used in conjunction with the WVR from Stirling, from Pardo and Cernicharo 'ATM', and from Holdaway 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.


D: Personnel

The Project Scientists for EU,  NA and JP work with the ALMA Project Scientist to lead the global effort of the Science IPT.  They advise the ALMA Project Scientist in defining and maintaining the top-level scientific requirements and scope of the project.   They work in conjunction with the ALMA Project Scientist to establish the scientific requirements for the ALMA system.  Interacting with other IPTs, they set scientific requirements for various technical areas.  Each is responsible for ALMA scientific activities within the appropriate ALMA partner, including conducting meetings, workshops and ensuring ALMA representation at scientific conferences.  The Project Scientists are responsible for directing the work of the ALMA Postdoctoral personnel.

The Instrument Scientists work with the Project Scientists, providing advice on scientific specifications, error budgets etc. (with emphasis on national work  packages).   They work with engineering groups to optimize the scientific performance of ALMA.
They provide leadership and expertise to project reviews.  The Instrument Scientists work with the Project Scientists in the planning and commissioning of ALMA instrumentation.  The Instrument Scientists assist the Project Scientists in their interactions with the local communities.

Group Leaders leac activities within each of the groups of the Science IPT.  .Activities of groups are staggered to provide support for ALMA at times appropriate for that support.  The Site Characterization Group has been active since 1995 but as the site becomes fully characterized its functions subside; its personnel will be reassigned as ALMA needs become more oriented toward realtime monitoring of the site.  The Configuration Group is tasked with defining the ALMA configuration.  Its personnel will be reassigned when the task of defining the configuration is complete.  The Calibration Group defines the procedures for the calibration of ALMA; this task will continue throughout the working lifetime of ALMA.  The Imaging Group provides simulations of ALMA data and images as well as algorithms for the production of images from ALMA data.  This task also continues through the working lifetime of ALMA.

ALMA Postdoctoral Fellows will be hired to learn and to develop the techniques of millimeter interferometry, eventually disseminating this knowledge into their prospective communities.


The Science IPT is organized as illustrated here:

Science IPT Org Chart


A leader who is employed by the Science IPT is assigned to each WBS area.  The groups consist of personnel within ALMA as well as those who contribute but are not paid by ALMA.  As the ALMA prototype interferometer is assembled, personnel will be drawn from the Science IPT to advise on scientific matters relating to the operation of the interferometer.  As the ALMA instrument itself is built in Chile, personnel will rotate to Chile to provide similar support there.  As ALMA commissioning begins in Chile, there will be one science IPT member available at any given time to provide support.  In time, this support is provided by an operations science team rather than the construction team.  Where the function is required by an operations team person, it is listed as 'ops' in the Table; the science operations team must of course be larger than the sum of these people.

Hybrid model six SI scientists five years parallel

Title

Grade

2005

2006

2007

2008

2009

2010

2011

NAScientist

2

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

EUScientist

1.5

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

Site Characterization Leader

3

0.1x

0.1x

0.1x

ops

ops

ops

ops

NAPersonD

3

0.5X

0.5X

0.5x

0.5x

0,5x

ops

ops

Configuration Group Leader

3

0.25X

--

--

--

--

--

--

EUPersonD

3

1.0X

1.0X

x

x

x

ops

ops

SIPersonE

3

 


x

x

x

ops

ops

SIPersonF

3

 


x

x

x

ops

ops

NAInstSci

1.5

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

Imaging Group Leader

3

X

X

X

X

X

ops

ops

EUInstSci

2

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

Calibration Group Leader

3

X

X

X

X

X

ops

ops

NAPdocA

4

0.5X

1.0x

x

x

--

--

--

NAPdocB

4

 

1.0X

X

X

X

--

--

EUPdocA

4

0.3X

0.5x

x

x

--

--

--

EUPdocB

4

 0.3X

0.5X

X

X

X

--

--

Totals-Const

 

8.95

10.6

13.6

13.5

11

4


4

Totals-Ops

 

 

 


1

1

7

7

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


 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 rotate to Chile in mid-2006 to replicate

             qualification/verification of equipment on the growing instrument

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

             and other equipment arrives in the latter part of 2007.

As commissioning ramps up in 2007, 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 2011.


Materials included to cover costs of ancillary meteorological instruments, including maintenance of current instruments until
they are phased out as ancillary instruments are phased in; as well as travel at the yearly rate actually experienced 2002-2004.

Budget includes scientific meeting support (ALMA conference in 2006),but not ASAC travel support.