[mmaimcal] Somehighlights of the week at SMA...FYI

[Al Wootten]

Folks

Some excerpts from Moran's reports which I thought might be of interest to
the group. 

******************************* TECHNICAL NEWS *******************************

HAWAII 

Charles Cunningham visited the site to review how the Canadian water vapor 
radiometer would be mounted. 

TESTING PROGRAM

Jun Hui and Taco detect fringes on Sgr A* at 340 GHz on MAR 22. The weather
was not that great (CSO tau meter registered 0.15 at 225 GHz). However, the 
SNR on all three baselines was very high on the interval of the integration 
period of 1 minute (see Log Entry #1084).

Observations were made of ultracompact HII regions at 231 GHz, the frequency 
of the H30alpha recombination line (see Log Entry #1083). A full track of
data were acquired on V Hya at the CO (3-2) frequency (345 GHz). The snr was
very high on all three baselines and the source is clearly resolved.

Todd and Nimesh wrote a script to demonstrate "fast-switching" capability
(see Log Entry #1082). In the test the source and calibrator were separated 
by about 40 degrees and with a one minute switch cycle about half of the time
was spent on source. On a related subject, a stark comparison of the 
performance of the old and new servo systems can be seen in plots attached 
to Log Entry #1069. The new servo on antenna 4 shows an rms tracking error
of about 0.25 arcseconds (encoder steps easily seen) while on the old systems
the rms is about 1 arcsecond. The slew time is much faster and the settling
time is much smaller on the new servo in comparison with the old (see Log
Entry #1069). 
*************************** OTHER NEWS ****************************************

Seaquist (chair, JCMT Board) and Robson (Director, JCMT) met with Shapiro, 
Moran and Myers at SAO on MAR 21 to discuss the MOU for the expanded SMA 
(JCMT as an element). The result of the discussion, which will be incorporated
into a written MOU for ratification by involved parties, is that there will 
be a pilot program in calendar 2005 consisting of a total of 42 days. 
Equipment checkout will be carried out in 2004. Proposals will be selected 
on the basis of merit by a special TAC. Other observatories, such as the 
CSO, will be encouraged to participate. 

********************RECENT SMA TECHNICAL MEMOS*****************************

142 Requirements for Initial SMA Science              Wilner,    06/30/00
    Observations                                      Gurwell,
                                                      and Ho
                                                   
These memos are on the Web. A list of all the memos can also be found on the
Web. However, not all of the contents of these memos are available on the Web
yet. If you want a paper copy of a memo, contact Candy Hoffman, 617-495-7085.