ALMA Operations and the ALMA Operations and the North American ALMA North American ALMA Science CenterScience CenterAl WoottenAl WoottenNRAO NRAO

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ALMA Organization for Operations

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N. A. ALMA Science Center

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ALMA Operations Timeline

2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009

2004: Prototype Interferometer at ATFRecruit Key Personnel for North American ALMA Science Center

2005: Prototype Interferometer Commissioning & Verification NA ASC Operational

2006: ALMA Interferometer in Chile; NAASC Archive Preparation for Call for Proposals Early Science Call for Proposals Issued

2007: First ALMA Phase I Proposals Regional TAC Process functional Phase 2 Proposals Early Science Operations Second Call for Proposals

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ALMA Regional Centers

• One element of the NA ALMA Science Center; supplies ‘core’ functions• Science Support Services:

– Proposal and observation preparation; user support– Data quality assurance ‘Q3’– Data analysis user support (‘helpdesk’)– ALMA Archive node– Exchange of personnel for Astronomer-on-duty shifts in Chile

• Technical support services (e.g. remote repair?)• Development support services

– Computing system maintenanced– Computing development

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Astronomers at the NA-ASC

• ‘Core’ complement performs essential functions, same at all ALMA centers

• ‘Additional’ complement performs those functions not deemed essential by the JAO for all users but which one Executive (NRAO) deems essential for its (NA) users.

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Proposal Functions

• Proposal support (assume 2 calls/yr) in– Operations and test lead astronomer—day to day contact w/ALMA, conducts

videocons w/Santiago, OSF, other ARCs– Phase I – initial proposal submission & review

• ~5 core staff astronomers at each ARC [both functions]– Handle submissions, PRC care & feeding, response to proposer– ObservingTool cookbook, development– Core personnel serve at OSF as Astronomer on Duty fewx2wks/yr

• SIRTF (one phase) has 11• HST has 22 (all phases)

– Phase II – approved by regional PRC and assigned time by the TAC, the proposal is coded for ALMA execution.

• Generate Scheduling Blocks from OT, user help in this • With funding, some additional people needed (2 at SIRTF/JPL)

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Operations Support

• Core function: ~4 scientists– Functions:

• Data analysis support– Support for standard ALMA data products

– Data processing tools

– Basic data reduction support

• Feedback on ALMA procedures and tools

• Quality assurance ‘Level 3’– Characterization of hardware—e.g. antenna beam evolution

• Data Analyst

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Archive Operations

• Technical Support staff (4)– Care and feeding of the Archive

– Basic Archive user support

– Data package Mastering

– Data package shipping

– VO interface

• Database Administrator (1)

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User Support

• Beyond Core functions – Direct user support – friend, helpdesk, advice

• External users via e-commo• Visitors

– Cookbooks, instrumental status dissemination– User funding implementation– Postdoctoral program– Predoctoral programs– Schools, meetings, workshops, videocons– Develop web content, etc for EPO– Analysis tools

• Develop through theory grants?

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Science Technical Support

• Observing tools – Spectral line lists– Calibrator lists

• Computing– Develop new directions for data reduction and imaging—e.g. new pipeline versions

• Algorithm development• Parallelization development

– Reprocessing of large or special purpose datasets– Advanced simulation development– Special projects

• Public surveys• Large programs

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Long-term Development

• Additional Receiver Bands• Upgrades of existing Bands• Phase correction upgrades

– WVR sensitivity– Refraction correction

• New Correlator• VLBI data recording• Back End upgrade: LO, digitizers etc.• Antenna Upgrades• Computing development

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Opportunities

• 10Nradioastronomers= Nopticalastronomers

– ALMA provides service observing—its primary data product is image data– Anyone can use ALMA; blackbelt expertise is not required– Therefore ALMA will have many more users than other NRAO facilities– This presents a challenge to the ALMA Science Center

• ALMA needs to work in synergy with other radio facilities to develop the necessary expertise and manposer

– New on-site submm observatories ASTE (JP), APEX (ESO) still in commissioning phases– CSO (US), JCMT (UK/CA/NL), LMT, GBT, ARO– SMA (US). CARMA (US), IRAM (FR/MPIfR/SP)

• There exists a need for fostering students and postdocs at ALMA partners for ALMA Operations

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Postdoctoral Positions

• Suggested model features– Two years in Chile, followed by one year at ARC– 2-3, up to 4 per year per partner, ramping down with time (lest

we overproduce them!)– Guaranteed time on ALMA

• From Director’s Discretionary time (~5%=18 d per year)?• Partner time?

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Pre-Doctoral Students

• Chilean students supported by CONICYT– But this is up to the Chilean community

• Existing NRAO pre-doc program, summer student program

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Computing

• Software maintenance in Chile • Functions at NA ASC proposed

– Development of ALMA software • JP support suggests additional needs• Non-core functions • Algorithm development

– Parallelization– New developments

– Archive mirror • Maintain physical plant, software interface• Respond to user access problems.

– System and network administration

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ALMA in Chile (Cont)

• Long-term visits (>6 mos to >1 yr)– NRAO, community members

• NRAO – make it logistically easy• Santiago location—association with Santiago astronomical community

– NRAO provides help on schools, hospitals– NRAO arranges Spanish language classes– Postdocs spend first 2 yrs in Chile, then ASC– Increased travel support for scientific meeting attendance– Weekly videocon contact with NA-ASC– 2 week limit to continuous time at OSF– Personal space at OSF– Guaranteed time for postdocs

• Community– Support during Sabbatical leave or ?

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