Summary

We summarize our major recommendations. These are in the order discussed in the text and not in any priority order. More detailed recommendations can be found in the section referenced by the major recommendations.

• We strongly support continued discussions aimed at including Japan in the ALMA project (Section 2).
• We confirm that the first four bands to be implemented should be Bands 3, 6, 7, and 9. We establish priorities for the remaining bands, but emphasize that full frequency coverage is still desired, including Band 1 (Section 3).
• Polarization studies will be a very important part of ALMA science. We recommend attention to polarization in all aspects, but most importantly in receivers and antenna testing (Sections 3, 6).
• The advantages of SSB operation over DSB operation of the receivers are not so clear. We recommend further study of the tradeoffs and reconsideration of the issue at a future ASAC meeting (Section 3).
• If an ultra-compact array of smaller, more precise antennas can result from participation of Japan, it would add important capabilities. We recommend further study of this possibility (Sections 2, 4).
• The capability for 6 subarrays should be kept, but with no more than 4 simultaneous frequencies (Section 4).
• The Configuration Working Group should complete simulations of different array configurations and testing against a library of test images in time for an in-depth presentation at the next ASAC meeting (Section 5).
• Recovering total power is a major issue for continuum observations of extended sources. This may be best done with OTF mapping if receivers can be built with gain stability of $\Delta G/G = 10^{-4}$ in one second (Sections 3, 4, 6).
• Tests of total power techniques, comparing OTF with gain-stable receivers to nutating secondaries should be made on the prototype antennas. Decisions on equipping the array with nutating secondaries should be based on the outcome of these tests (Section 6).
• The water vapor radiometers are essential and must be integrated into all aspects of the ALMA system (Section 7).

APPENDICES