[mmaimcal] Re: FYI: 24 Oct 05 BIWEEKLY CALENDAR OF THE ALMA PROJECT at NRAO
Tony Beasley
tbeasley at alma.cl
Thu Oct 27 06:59:02 EDT 2005
Al, to be honest I don't think we can send out the summary with the
bullets - they were our opinion of the outcome at the time, the
committee could further reflect etc. and come back with a different take
(unlikely, but....). We shouldn't speak for the committee in public,
etc., will piss everyone off.
Replace with something like:
Some 74 international panel members, ALMA/ALMA-J personnel and assorted
interested parties met for the Cost Review of the ALMA project in
Garmisch-Partenkirchen 13-16 October. The scope, schedule and budget of
the proposed 50-antenna baseline project was reviewed in detail, with
several follow-on sessions exploring specific planning issues such as
integration with ALMA-J. The information presented was comprehensive,
and the verbal report from the panel at the end of the review was
generally positive. The panel noted that "the science capability of a
50-antenna array was extremely exciting, and that ALMA remains an
extremely exciting project for the future". The detailed written report
is expected late November.
etc. more neutral on committee response, hit the "good project" point,
more info about how the review went down.
TB
BIWEEKLY CALENDAR OF THE ALMA PROJECT at NRAO
> Oct 24, 2005 - Nov 7, 2005
>
> ******************************** THIS FORTNIGHT*************************
> Some 74 panel members, ALMA Personnel and assorted interested parties
> met for the Cost Review of the rebaselined ALMA budget in
> Garmisch-Partenkirchen 13-16 October.
>
> - The
>
> - The technical readiness level of ALMA is high - there is little risk
> to the project from technical issues.
>
> - The project has a management structure capable of running the project.
>
> - The detailed information provided by the IPTs was of high quality; the
> committee was very impressed with the efforts made. The IPTs have
> developed robust plans containing adequate detail and in the most part
> adequate contingency. Nothing obvious seems to be missing. The ALMA IPTs
> appeared to be managed well.
>
> - The Operations planning in place seems to be complete and accurate,
> but we need to get on with Operations planning.
>
> - The cost growth for the program appears to come from two areas: (1)
> the original estimates were made with insufficient knowledge of the
> scope of the project; (2) costs associated with the delays of the
> antenna contracts and other activities.
>
> - The committee is comfortable that the ALMA Cost Estimate, as
> presented, represents a good estimate of the cost to complete the array
> and can be adopted with confidence IF tight schedule discipline is
> followed AT ALL LEVELS of the project.
>
> - Hiring in many areas of the project needs to be planned and
> implemented rapidly; the committee notes a concern that delays in
> developing hiring procedures could have a significant impact to the
> schedule (and therefore cost).
>
> - The committee endorses the idea that the project must shift to a
> "Build-to-Cost" mindset at this point.
>
> In summary, the committee stated: "ALMA can be built to the current cost
> estimate, provided funds are available", and "the estimates provided
> appear to be robust and credible."
>
> The response from the committee is pretty much as good as it could be,
> so congratulations to everyone. More detailed comments on each IPT will
> be presented in the final report.
>
> T. Beasley
> A. Russell
> H. Rykaczewski
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
> The ALMA Board will meet in Santiago 31 Oct through 2 November.
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
> Past issues of this Calendar may be viewed at
> http://www.cv.nrao.edu/~awootten/mmaimcal/ALMACalendars.html
> See also the JAO ALMA Calendar overview at:
> http://www.alma.cl/alma_project
> *******************************************************************************
>
> General Happenings
> Santiago: The AUI Board of Trustees meets in Santiago 26-27 October.
>
> OSF: The AUI Board of Trustees will visit the ALMA site 28-29 October.
> The Contractor's Camp is functioning; see http://www.alma.nrao.edu/
>
> AOS: Construction of the AOS Technical Building continues.
>
> ATF: Vertex continues to work on their antenna.
>
> NAASC: Registration for the Z-Machines workshop has closed. 70
> participants are expected: 19 speakers, 36 contributions (some talks,
> some posters).
> *******************************************************************************
>
> DAILY CALENDAR (Times EDT ) see
> https://wikio.nrao.edu/bin/view/ALMA/AlmaCalendar
> Mon 24 October
> Tue 25
> 10:30 AM-11:30 AM: JAO IPT Telecon
> 4:00 PM-5:00 PM: NAScienceIPT teleconference (open to all interested
> parties) (434)296-7082
> Wed 26
> Thu 27
> 10:30 AM-11:30 AM: Management IPT telecon
> Fri Oct 28
> Sat Oct 29
> Sun Oct 30
> Mon Oct 31
> All Day: Executive/JAO Meeting
> Halloween
> Tue Nov 1
> All Saints Day Holiday, Chile
> All Day: ALMA Board Meeting, Santiago
> 10:30 AM-11:30 AM: JAO IPT Telecon
> 4:00 PM-5:00 PM: NAScienceIPT teleconference (open to all interested
> parties) (434)296-7082
> Wed Nov 2
> All Day: ALMA Board Meeting, Santiago
> Thu Nov 3
> All Day: ALMA Board Meeting Closed Session, Santiago
> Fri Nov 4
> Sat Nov 5
> Sun Nov 6
> ****************************** UPCOMING EVENTS ****************************
> ALMA Calendar--https://wikio.nrao.edu/bin/view/ALMA/AlmaCalendar
> * Oct 26-27 -- AUI Board, Santiago
> * Nov 1-2 -- ALMA Board, Santiago
> * Nov 8-9 -- ESO Finance Committee
> * Nov 8-9 -- ALMA-J Antenna SRR, Osaka
> * Nov 10-11 -- ACA System Review, Tokyo
> * Nov 21-22 -- SSR Meeting, Charlottesville
> * Nov 30-Dec 1 -- National Science Board meets
> * Dec 7-8 -- ESO Council Regular Meeting
> * Jan 4-7 -- URSI/NA, Boulder
> * Jan 12-14 -- ALMA Zmachines workshop
> ******************************* TECHNICAL NEWS *************************
> ALMA Memo 530: Coherence estimation on the measured phase noise in Allan
> standard deviation.
> Author: Hitoshi KIUCHI
>
> Abstract: In this memo, a technique for signal coherence loss
> estimation for Interferometer is introduced. We discuss the coherence
> loss caused by the phase noise in order to find out the cause of
> dominant coherence-loss source, and introduce a concept of coherent
> integration time. The coherence loss can be calculated from the
> measured phase stability in Allan standard deviation. The key of an
> interferometer is to maintain the signal coherence. In a connected
> interferometer, the instability of the distributed common reference
> signal is compensated for as a common noise. On the other hand, the
> independent instability of each element decreases the signal
> coherence. For ALMA, the instability of LLC (Line length corrector),
> WMA (Warm multiplier assembly) and CMA (Cold multiplier assembly) are
> independent and/or mounted on independent antennas. The frequency
> standard (including signal transmission and multiplier chain) of ALMA
> must be stable over the long-time period (up to observation time) and
> the short-time period (coherent integration time for fringe detection)
> to maintain the coherence. We will discuss the required phase stability
> and the coherence loss in the Allan standard deviation. This coherence
> estimation is essential for the VLBI application. As a result, the ALMA
> specification is good enough to keep the coherence, the estimated
> instrumental coherence losses are 5 % in LO, and 10 % in total (exclude
> atmospheric scintillation) at 938 GHz with over 260 sec coherent
> integration time.
>
> A pdf copy of this memo is on edm.alma.cl and will eventually appear at:
> http://www.alma.nrao.edu/memos/html-memos/alma530/memo530.pdf
> ******************************ALSO OF INTEREST**************************
>
> ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
> ------------------TENURE TRACK ASTRONOMER POSITIONS---------------------
> The National Radio Astronomy Observatory (NRAO) invites outstanding
> applicants for tenure track astronomer positions. In the next few years,
> the NRAO expects to make one or two appointments per year. Appointments
> are not restricted to radio astronomers. See
> http://www.nrao.edu/administration/personnel_office/careers.shtml#tenure
> ---------------------------ALMA Postdocs--------------------------------
> 2006 Postdoc Position at the North American ALMA Science Center/ALMA
> Construction
>
> The National Radio Astronomy Observatory expects to invite applications
> for a NRAO Postdoctoral appointment at the North American ALMA Science
> Center in Charlottesville, Va. These positions provide 50% time for
> independent research, with the remaining 50% assigned to project
> and operational duties at the sites.
> The position is funded by a grant from the National Science Foundation
> through the ALMA Construction Project. See:
> http://www.nrao.edu/administration/personnel_office/careers.shtml#alma
> ---------------------------------------------
> 2006 ALMA Postdoc Positions at ESO
> For the first time this year, four dedicated ALMA/ESO fellowships will
> be offered (two in Garching and two in Santiago) in addition to the several
> regular fellowships offered at both places. Please see:
> http://eso.org/gen-fac/adm/pers/vacant/fellows2005-6.html
> ******************************************************************************
>
> Please send information for upcoming calendars by Friday evening of the
> preceding biweekly period to Jennifer Neighbours or Al Wootten via
> e-mail (jneighbo at nrao.edu or awootten at nrao.edu).
>
> The calendar will be issued between late Friday and sometime on Monday
> by e-mail to all NRAO scientific staff members and anyone else
> interested. A specific mailing list, alma-info, has been created for
> anyone wishing to receive it. Past issues are available at
> http://www.cv.nrao.edu/~awootten/mmaimcal/ALMACalendars.html
>
>
>
>
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