ALMA Operations and the North American ALMA Science Center Al Wootten NRAO

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ALMA Operations and the North American ALMA
Science CenterAl WoottenNRAO
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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 ATF Recruit
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 astronomerday 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 hardwaree.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
  imaginge.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

• 10?Nradioastronomers ?Nopticalastronomers
• ALMA provides service observingits 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 Directors Discretionary time (518 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 (gt6 mos to gt1 yr)
• NRAO, community members
• NRAO make it logistically easy
• Santiago locationassociation 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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