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 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 ?