[mmaimcal] FYI: 24 Apr 06 BIWEEKLY CALENDAR OF THE ALMA PROJECT at NRAO

Mon Apr 24 18:31:40 EDT 2006

Folks,

Comments, corrections, criticisms?
Al
                  BIWEEKLY CALENDAR OF THE ALMA PROJECT at NRAO
                          24 April 2006 - 8 May 2006

******************************** THIS FORTNIGHT****************************
Pursuant to Article 12.9 of the ALMA Agreement, Board Members have 
officially designated Annelia Sargent as ALMA Board Chairperson
effective immediately and expiring at the end of the current term,
December 31, 2006.
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Near 11:20 hours on 2006 April 18 the Láscar volcano erupted, 
generating a column of smoke of about 3,000 meters (10,000 feet) in 
height. The eruption was observed from hundreds of 
kilometers the distance and the ash-gray column throws particular material 
and ash.  Eruptions occurred near noon on the two subsequent days.  On
20 April the ash plume passed over the ALMA site.  Photos are collected at:
https://wikio.nrao.edu/bin/view/ALMA/LascarStirs06
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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
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General Happenings
OSF (Ops Support Facility, 9600ft altitude): Approximately 64 people
are working on the ALMA site.

Santiago: Early discussions on Santiago ALMA Offices at Vitacura continue.

AOS (Array Ops Site, 16000ft altitude): Lascar erupted; see above.
The AOS Technical Building Foundation and Shell construction is 
substantially complete.
Picture: http://www.cv.nrao.edu/~awootten/mmaimcal/AOSTB06Ap18.jpg

TUC: Emerson chaired Computing System Requirements Review, held via
multicon.

AOC: PSI testing has successfully spectrally cross-correlated a common signal 
in the lab.  The test involved sending the same analogue noise signal into two 
different digitizers and through different channels of the same antenna 
rack, into the correlator and producing a cross-spectrum.  In a followup
test to occur shortly the same will be done using two different antenna racks.
The final report of the 4th offline user test, of CASA 
- Common Astronomy Software Applications - is available at:
http://tinyurl.com/syqfc . CASA is a python binding of the 
C++ functionality that was in AIPS++. This initial version of CASA had 
pythony commands that had a one-to-one correspondence with AIPS++ Glish
commands. 
The ALMA software continues to work end-to-end.  Previous user testing 
had identified 13 top priority items that needed to be addressed.
A user test 'spot check' of the ALMA integrated software report is complete. 
See  http://tinyurl.com/lmwx7

ATF (ALMA Test Facility, VLA site): Optical Pointing Test report available.
AEM personnel are on the AEC antenna working on metrology and drive systems.

NTC: Finished measuring all 8 Band 3 OMTs.
The final design review before procuring the production Master Laser and 
Laser Synthesizer is scheduled tentatively for Charlottesville on 13 June.

NAASC (North American ALMA Science Center: Gallery of ALMA photos at:
http://www.alma.nrao.edu/almanews/almagallery/index.html
Mangum engaged in further discussion of calibration and source catalogue 
issues with Ed Fomalont and John Benson.  ALMA Science IPT telecon was
 held.
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DAILY CALENDAR (Times EDT ) see
https://wikio.nrao.edu/bin/view/ALMA/AlmaCalendar
 Mon  24 Apr
 Tue  25 Apr
 6:02 AM: Launch of CloudSat/CALIPSO is planned for 25 April 2006 
                 (third attempt) at 3:02 AM PDT (1002 UTC). Live coverage on 
                 NASA TV begins at 1:00 AM PDT.
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 Apr
 Thu  27 Apr  New Moon
11:30 AM-12:30 PM: Management IPT Telecon
 Fri  28 Apr 
 Sat  29 Apr 
 Sun  30 Apr 
 Mon   1 May Chile, Europe
 Tue   2 May
10:30 AM-11:30 AM: JAO IPT Telecon
 Wed   3 May
 Thu   4 May
 Fri   5 May
 Sat   6 May
 Sun   7 May 
 Mon   8 May Complex Molecules in Space: Present status and prospects with 
               ALMA 8th thru 11th May 2006, Fuglsøcentret, Denmark
             EVLA Advisory Committee, Socorro
 Mon  15 May Registration Deadline, IAU XXVI General Assy
             Events of ALMA interest compiled at:
              http://www.cv.nrao.edu/~awootten/mmaimcal/IAUALMA.txt
****************************** UPCOMING EVENTS ****************************
 April 24-25     All day         SRR followup meeting   Garching
 April 27                        ALMA Board Telecon
 April 28        1900 UT         ANASAC Telecon
 May 3           1500UT          ASAC Telecon
 May 3           1700UT          NAASC Telecon
 May 25                          ALMA Board Telecon
 June 13-14    	 all day 	 ALMA Board Meeting 	Santiago
 Jun 19-20 (tent)all day         AIVCSV Meeting         Santiago 
 Aug 1                           Move of PSI to ATF
 Sept 22-23      evening         Dave Matthews Band     CV JPJ Arena opening
 November 9-10 	 all day 	 ALMA Board Meeting 	Madrid 	TBD
 Nov 13-16    all day Science with ALMA: a new era for Astrophysics Madrid
******************************* TECHNICAL NEWS ****************************
EVLA Memo #101  "Multi Frequency Synthesis Imaging for the EVLA : An initial
investigation"
Authors : Urvashi R.V., NRAO & New Mexico Tech; T.J.Cornwell, ATNF; 
S.T.Myers, NRAO
April 12, 2006

Abstract: This document presents an analysis and comparison of existing multi
frequency synthesis algorithms along with some hybrids, from the point
of view of (E)VLA wide-band imaging requirements of 1 microJy rms
noise and >10^6 dynamic range from an 8 hour observation
over a bandwidth of 1GHz at L Band. Tests on simulated wide-band data
with power law (and non power-law) spectra show the following.
(i) Single channel deconvolution techniques are inadequate due to the 
limiting single channel sensitivity and the varying spatial resolution 
across channels.
(ii) Bandwidth synthesis along with double deconvolution techniques
that model the spectral variation as a power law work well for sources 
with pure power law spectra.
For non power-law spectra, especially with large scale weak emission,
inaccuracies in the estimation of the actual spectral signature of the
sources lead to deconvolution artifacts at the 10 microJy level.
(iii) Hybrid techniques that combine single channel imaging and
bandwidth synthesis using a power law model for spectral flux variation, 
work well when only bright and compact sources have significant spectral 
flux variation.
Therefore, alternate algorithms (or variants) must be devised to
extend the modeling of the spectral flux variation beyond that of a
pure power law and simultaneously account for the accurate
deconvolution of extended emission.

View a ps or pdf version of EVLA Memo #100 at:
http://www.aoc.nrao.edu/evla/memolist.shtml
******************************ALSO OF INTEREST*****************************
ALMA presentations from the Inaugural Japan-Taiwan ALMA Science Workshop
Dec. 15 -16, 2005 are available on line through links at 
http://alma.asiaa.sinica.edu.tw/activities/workshop2005/program_frame.php
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The Caltech Submillimeter Observatory (CSO) encourages observing 
participation by astronomers from both U.S. and non-U.S. institutions. 
Lodging, subsistence and transportation on the mountain are provided free 
by the CSO, for two observers per program. A limited amount of travel 
money may also be available.
Proposals for observing time should include the CSO cover form (please 
use the latest version available at
http://www.submm.caltech.edu/cso/cso-call.html . The proposals will be 
reviewed by an external peer group committee and should be sent by 31 
May for the observing period 1 September through 31 January.
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                2nd pan-ALMA Conference : 2nd Announcement

Dear Colleague,

The 2nd pan-ALMA conference on "Science with ALMA: a new era for  
Astrophysics" will be held 13-16 November 2006 in Madrid, Spain. The 
venue will be the campus of the CSIC (Consejo Superior de 
Investigaciones Cientificas), in the centre of town. 

Information on the 2nd pan-ALMA meeting is available via

       http://www.oan.es/alma2006/   (final slash is mandatory)
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Post Doctoral Research Associate Studies of high-mass star formation
Salary up to £26,401 per annum (Ref: EPS/108/06)

THE UNIVERSITY OF MANCHESTER FACULTY OF ENGINEERING AND PHYSICAL SCIENCES
SCHOOL OF PHYSICS AND ASTRONOMY JODRELL BANK OBSERVATORY

A postdoctoral position is available to work on a new VLA high resolution 
radio continuum survey of the Galactic Plane. This Large VLA Project has 
been awarded ~400 hours of observing time and will begin in June 2006; it 
will cover the same area as the northern GLIMPSE survey made by the 
SPITZER satellite. The postdoctoral fellow will take charge of the 
observations, reduction and exploitation of the survey, aimed principally 
at the study of high-mass star formation. Collaboration with other members 
of the international team is envisaged.

The position is available immediately for a period of two years in the 
first instance, with the possibility of extension beyond this date.  The 
appointment will be as a Research Associate, with a starting salary in the 
range of £24,886 to £26,401 per annum.

Application forms and further particulars are available at 
http://www.manchester.ac.uk/vacancies or from EPS HR Office, The 
University of Manchester, Sackville Street Building, Manchester M60 1QD, 
Tel: 0161 275 8837; Fax: 0161 306 5037 or email: eps-hr at manchester.ac.uk.

Quote ref:  EPS/108/06

Closing date: Monday 1 May 2006

Informal inquiries may be made to Philip Diamond, tel: 01477 571321, 
email pdiamond at jb.man.ac.uk
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Anne Dutrey informs us of a CNRS post-doctoral position at the Observatory of 
Bordeaux. The position is opened for two years and will start on september 
2006 at the Observatory of Bordeaux. The application deadline is June 2006. 

The position is dedicated to the modelling of chemistry in proto-planetary 
disks in order to interpret observational data obtained with the IRAM array.  

Interested people can read the dedicated CNRS web page 
http://www.k-projects.com/cnrs_postdocs/public/departement_details.php?IdDpt=9&Dep=SDU&NumOffre=2&Langue=en
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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 
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Past issues are available at
http://www.cv.nrao.edu/~awootten/mmaimcal/ALMACalendars.html