ASAC Telecon minutes by JSR
Wed 14 December 2005, 2100 UT
Present: at least
Chris Carilli
Ryohei Kawabe
Chris Wilson
Al Wootten
Jean Turner
Yamada-san
Pepe Cernicharo
Lee Mundy
John Richer
Tom Wilson
Yamamoto-sa
Leonardo Testi
Darrel Emerson
Peter Schilke
Project News
MT and TB were not on line, so Al Wootten presented project news from
his hotel in Chile.
- The main item is that the ESO antenna contract has been signed, with
press releases from ESO and Alcatel available on the web. The latter
discloses the contract value as 147 million Euros for the 25 antennas.
- On Jan 30th 2006 there will be a delta cost review to assess impact of
the two antenna designs at the IPT level.
- Article 19 of bilateral agreement calls for reviews of the Executives'
activities every three years. NSF will review NRAO ALMA activities
immediately after the delta cost review panel meeting.
- Local staff in Chile: the hiring policy still being worked on. A
meeting of a Board working group is scheduled for early January to
make progress on this important issue.
- The ALMA LO system is now being tested in the lab; plan for ATF tests
in early/mid 2006.
- Optical pointing tests with new software environment will be starting
at the ATF in February. ALMA test interferometer then to be assembled
over the spring/summer.
News from Japan
Kawabe-san reported on a science workshop with China last week; they are
discussing how to collaborate with China. This week, they are attending
an ALMA Japan-Taiwan workshop in Taipei.
Face-to-Face meeting and Charges
Chris Wilson stated that the face-to-face meeting has been approved for
28 and 29 January in Los Angeles by the Board. There are 3 charges, not
formally approved, but very close! Revised version circulating for
comment today, so we should receive tomorrow. Charges 1 and 2 are
unchanged from the draft; Charge 3 is under slight revision.
Charge 1 on Software: extensive reading lists have been prepared by
Chris, including detailed design and planning documents. These latter
ones perhaps include too much detail for most. ASAC asked Computing IPT
management who should present, and they suggested Brian Glendenning and
Debra Shepherd as they are geographically close and in touch with the
issues. Plan to have Software on day 1 to allow Brian G to get to
Washington. Chris W will create a tarball of documents for easy
download.
Charge 2 on the ACA: again, Chris W has put together an extensive list
of background documents on ACA. Again, a tarball of documents will be
created, with the most important ones prioritised. Talks from the ACA
PDR are of particular relevance. Key science issues are the calibration
of ACA data; the use of the combined array (ACA plus baseline antennas);
and ACA software. Who will present ACA to ASAC? Kawabe-san will help
decide this. Calibration by Balthazar and Kawabe; three or so talks are
likely to be presented. Tatematsu leads ALMA-J computing - he could
perhaps come to ASAC if it were felt appropriate. We need to ask Brian
Glendenning for his opinion and whether he will cover ACA software in
his talk. Leonardo Testi pointed out that the Observing Tool simulator
includes ACA explicitly anyway.
Charge 3: imaging with ALMA. Focus now is on what new simulations need
to be done by the science IPT, rather than what has been done to date.
Al will summarise recent simulations and Science IPT notes from the
telecons.
Outreach
Liaison with regional SACs: ANASAC, ESAC and perhaps J-SAC will meet
before the the LA meeting. It was decided that it was up to the common
members of the ASAC and the regional SACs to communicate the ASAC
charges and relevant reading material to the regional SACs.
Logistics for LA meeting. Jean Turner is working on this, and will let
us know when she has found somewhere to stay. It should be close to
LAX, accessible by shuttle van. Will aim to end meeting by about 1500
on Sunday 29th to allow people to catch European-bound evening flights.
Science IPT report: Science Requirements document being revised and soon
to be sent to the JAO. Awaiting confirmation of the revised small array
configuration from John Conway.
Tom W has been working on EU ARC organisation. The position of Manager
of EU ARC will be re-advertised in January.
Al Wootten noted that the post of Head of
NAASC is being advertised
currently.
ANASAC: no telecon since last time says Chris C. AAS Town Hall meeting
in January on ALMA. Joint US/Canadian meeting later in the year at
CASCA.
Al W asks for members to let him know about any upcoming ALMA talks at
forthcoming meetings.
Pepe Cernicharo: global ALMA meeting in Madrid is being activley
planned. The SOC is working on preliminary programme. 7-9 sessions
planned. Publicity needs more work.
Next meeting: Jan 4th at 2100 UT.
--
AlWootten - 11 Jan 2006