alma operations and the north american alma science center al wootten nrao

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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