VLBA/HSA Submission

NRAO Interactive Services Modification Request 1C2n308, June 2008

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1. Introduction

Add VLBA/HSA to the PST.

2. Background

The PST includes the VLA and GBT telescopes. The VLBA uses a LaTeX coversheet along with an attached scientific justification. We want to add the VLBA to the PST.

3. Requirements

Plan A (full incorporation of VLBA into PST)

This part of the PST will be used for VLBA/HSA proposals. It will not be used for Global VLBI network proposals or Global 3mm VLBI proposals (for now). There is a small class of geodetic proposals which use the VLBA and some stations of their own geodetic network. I've tried to keep the geodetic option in the Stations part of the Resources.

Start from the VLA and make the following adjustments.

• General Page:
  • Title: okay
  • Type: okay
  • Scientific Category: replace solar system with astrometry/geodesy.
  • Abstract: okay
  • Joint: possible choices: "not", "joint with vla", "joint with gbt", "joint with gbt and vla"
  • Observing Type(s): continuum, spectroscopy, pulsar, phase referencing, monitoring, triggered transient.
  • Dissertation Research Plan: okay
  • Observer Present for Observations: remove this.
  • Staff Support Required: remove this.
  • Related Proposals: okay

• Authors Page: okay

• Scientific Justification: okay

• Sources: okay

• Resources:
  • Order: okay
  • Name: okay
  • Configuration: replace with "Stations". Select one or more from the following list: VLBA, Sc, Hn, Nl, Fd, La, Pt, Kp, Ov, Br, Mk, Ef, Ar, Y27, Y1, GBT, Geodetic. Checking VLBA should select all of (Sc, Hn, Nl, Fd, La, Pt, Kp, Ov, Br, Mk). Y27 and Y1 are mutually exclusive. Selecting "Geodetic" should allow a number (like 4 or 5 or 7) to be entered. This number should add to the number of other stations selected and this total number of stations should be listed (and stored) somewhere.
  • Receiver: replace with "Wavelength". Include the following options: 90cm, 50cm, 21cm, 18cm, 13cm, 6cm, 5cm, 3.6cm, 3.6/13cm, 2cm, 1.3cm, 7mm, 3mm. A specific frequency and bandwidth are not required.
  • Back End: replace with "Processor". Use a drop-down menu with: Socorro, JIVE, Bonn, Washington.
  • add Special Processing: select as many as necessary: Full Polarization, Pulsar Gate, Multiple Fields (fill-in), Averaging Time (fill-in), No. Spectral Points/Baseband channel (fill-in) Multiple Corr. Passes (fill-in). (The No. Spectral Points/Baseband channel could be a drop-down menu, with entries: 8,16, 32, 64, 128, 256, 512, 1024)
  • add Aggregate Bit Rate: consists of the following parameters:
    • Bandwidth per baseband channel: 62.5, 125, 250, 500 kHz, 1, 2, 4, 8, 16 MHz
    • Number of baseband channels: 1, 2, 4, 8
    • Sample Rate: 2, 4, 8, 16, 32 Msamples/s
    • Bits/Sample 1, 2
    • Polarization RCP, LCP, Dual
    • Aggregate Bit Rate: calculate Number of baseband channels x Sample Rate x Bits/Sample [Mbits/s]

There should be a "Default Continuum Setup" which selects 8 MHz bandwidth, 8 baseband channels, Dual polarization, and 1 Bit/Sample (= 128 Mbits/s).

There are some correspondences between Bandwidth per baseband channel and Sample rate. But we want the user to be able to set the Sample Rate. If the Bandwidth is set then set the Sample Rate to the corresponding number below. We do not want the bandwidth set if the user sets the Sample Rate.

Bandwidth  Sample Rate
62.5 kHz    2 Msample/s
125  kHz    2 Msample/s
250  kHz    2 Msample/s
500  kHz    2 Msample/s
1    MHz    2 Msample/s
2    MHz    4 Msample/s
4    MHz    8 Msample/s
8    MHz   16 Msample/s
16   MHz   32 Msample/s

• Sessions:
  • Session: okay
  • Number of Sessions: okay
  • Separation: okay
  • Min Start LST: change to Min LST start (Array Center)
  • Max End LST: change to Max LST end (Array Center)
  • Min Elevation: remove.
  • Constraints: okay
  • Comments: okay
  • Source Groups: okay
  • Resources: okay
  • Time: okay
  • RMS Noise: okay
  • Sub Arrays: ?. We are going to add Sub-arrays under session. Is there something similar used in VLBA? --Ashish

• Print Preview: okay

Plan B

Do not use the PST but just the LaTeX coversheet.

4. Design

Technical lead should provide a brief description of how this will be implemented in the code.

5. Deployment Checklist

Documentation? Systems/hardware/networking things needed for deployment?

6. Test Plan

6.1 Internal Testing

6.2 Sponsor Testing

6.3 Integration/Regression Tests

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Signatures

APPROVED: I acknowledge that my request is fully contained in this MR, and if the Open Sky (or other NIS or PST developers) deliver exactly what I specified, I will be happy.

ACCEPTED: I acknowledge that I have validated the completed code according to the acceptance tests, and I am happy with the results.

Written	- - - - -
Checked	- - - - -
Approved by Scientific Sponsor	- - - - -
Accepted/Delivered by Sponsor	- - - - -

Symbols:

• Use %X% if MR is not complete (will display )
• Use %Y% if MR iscomplete (will display )

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Discussion Area

-- DanaBalser - 19 Feb 2008