Issue No. 46, February 2002 ISSN 1323-6326 FEATURES IN THIS ISSUE ATNF News The ATCA captures a “baby” supernova ATCA captures “baby” supernova (Page 1) Vale Gordon Stanley (Page 3) mm science workshop (Page 4) ANU/ATNF joint appointment (Page 5) New OiC for Narrabri (Page 5) CSIRO/TRW (Page 6) CSIRO vacation student program (Page 7) ATUC report (Page 9) Multi-transition maser observations at the ATCA (Page 12) On the evening of 10 December 2001, the Reverand Robert Evans was conducting his regular supernova patrol from his backyard in the Blue Mountains west of Sydney, when he came across an interloper in the nearby (D=12.5 Mpc) late-type spiral galaxy NGC 7424. In an era when the vast majority of supernova discoveries are made by robotic telescopes, or as part of the high- redshift supernova search programs, Evans’ trained eye, photographic memory, and a trusty 0.31-m (12") telescope have allowed him to maintain a proud record of supernova discoveries. Supernova 2001ig was his 39th discovery, and the 241st of 2001. Since its commissioning, the Australia Telescope Compact Array has played a leading role in the monitoring of several supernovae at radio wavelengths, most notably SN 1987A (Staveley-Smith et al. 1992) and SN 1978K (Ryder et al. 1993; Schlegel et al. 1999). Radio emission from these objects is typically not detected (or even searched for) until weeks, months, or even years after the outburst. A group led by Kurt Weiler at NRL has over the years been very successful at monitoring several historical and newly-discovered supernovae using the VLA (see http:// rsd-www.nrl.navy.mil/7214/weiler/ sne-home.html). Shortly after the discovery of SN2001ig, a request came from Kurt Weiler for the ATCA to search for a possible radio counterpart. With the Figure 1: Contours of 6-cm (4.8-GHz) radio emission observed with the ATCA on January 15 2002, overlaid on a blue light image of the outskirts of NGC 7424 from the Digitised Sky Survey. SN 2001ig is the upper-left of the two sources detected, and at its peak was comparable in brightness (~15 mJy) to the adjacent source. Continued on page 14
Transcript
Issue No. 46, February 2002 ISSN 1323-6326
FEATURESIN THIS ISSUE
ATNF News
The ATCA captures a “baby” supernova
ATCA captures“baby” supernova
(Page 1)
ValeGordon Stanley
(Page 3)
mm scienceworkshop
(Page 4)
ANU/ATNF jointappointment
(Page 5)
New OiC forNarrabri(Page 5)
CSIRO/TRW(Page 6)
CSIRO vacationstudent program
(Page 7)
ATUC report(Page 9)
Multi-transitionmaser observations
at the ATCA(Page 12)
On the evening of 10 December 2001,the Reverand Robert Evans wasconducting his regular supernova patrolfrom his backyard in the Blue Mountainswest of Sydney, when he came acrossan interloper in the nearby (D=12.5Mpc) late-type spiral galaxy NGC 7424.In an era when the vast majority ofsupernova discoveries are made byrobotic telescopes, or as part of the high-redshift supernova search programs,Evans’ trained eye, photographicmemory, and a trusty 0.31-m (12")telescope have allowed him to maintain aproud record of supernova discoveries.Supernova 2001ig was his 39thdiscovery, and the 241st of 2001.
Since its commissioning, the AustraliaTelescope Compact Array has played aleading role in the monitoring of several
supernovae at radio wavelengths, mostnotably SN 1987A (Staveley-Smith etal. 1992) and SN 1978K (Ryder et al.1993; Schlegel et al. 1999). Radioemission from these objects is typicallynot detected (or even searched for)until weeks, months, or even years afterthe outburst. A group led by KurtWeiler at NRL has over the years beenvery successful at monitoring severalhistorical and newly-discoveredsupernovae using the VLA (see http://rsd-www.nrl.navy.mil/7214/weiler/sne-home.html).
Shortly after the discovery ofSN2001ig, a request came from KurtWeiler for the ATCA to search for apossible radio counterpart. With the
Figure 1: Contours of 6-cm (4.8-GHz) radio emission observed with the ATCA onJanuary 15 2002, overlaid on a blue light image of the outskirts of NGC 7424 from the
Digitised Sky Survey. SN 2001ig is the upper-lef t of the two sources detected, and at it speak was comparable in brightness (~15 mJy) to the adjacent source.
Continued on page 14
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Editorial
Content s
ATNF News, Issue No 46, February 2002
Welcome to the February 2002 issue of ATNF News. We trust that you have enjoyed the Christmas andNew Year festivities and will enjoy catching up with everything that has been happening at the ATNF sinceour last issue.
The next issue of ATNF News will be distributed in June 2002. As always, contributions to the ATNF Newsare welcome. Please submit contributions to [email protected].
The ATNF News production team – Steven Tingay, Jo Houldsworth, and Jessica Chapman([email protected])
The ATCA captures a “baby” supernova................................................................................................1Vale Gordon Stanley................................................................................................................................3Workshop report: millimetre science with the upgraded ATCA...............................................................4Joint ATNF-ANU Professorial appointment............................................................................................5ATNF visitors program............................................................................................................................5New Officer-in-Charge for Narrabri Observatory..................................................................................5Progress on Luneburg lens development.................................................................................................6CSIRO - TRW alliance explores advanced semiconductors...................................................................6CSIRO Summer Vacation Scholarship Program.....................................................................................7ATNF graduate student program.............................................................................................................8Results of BHAG process.......................................................................................................................8Australia Telescope Users Committee Report........................................................................................9ATNF open day at Marsfield.................................................................................................................10Symposia and workshops – February 2002 to June 2002.......................................................................11ATNF Marsfield Lodge upgrade.............................................................................................................11Multi-transition OH maser observations with the ATCA .......................................................................1212-mm spectroscopy of η Carina – a vacation student experience......................................................15Square Kilometre Array program Report..............................................................................................16Australia Telescope Compact Array report...........................................................................................17Parkes Observatory report....................................................................................................................19Time assignment information.................................................................................................................22 ATNF publications list...........................................................................................................................23
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One of the pioneers of radio astronomydied on 17 December 2001. GordonJames Stanley was born in Cambridge,New Zealand, on 1 July 1921, andsubsequently trained as an engineer.
Towards the end of WWII he joined thefledgling radio astronomy group at theCSIRO Division of Radiophysics in Sydney,and briefly observed the Sun from NorthHead in 1945 before developing a 200-MHz receiver for Clay Allen’s solarantenna located at Mount Stromlo. He wasalso involved in the construction ofequipment to be taken to Brazil for the1947 May total solar eclipse.
When plans for this expedition wereabandoned, Stanley was assigned to theDover Heights field station, and he andJohn Bolton briefly carried out solarobservations with the equipment intendedfor Brazil. With assistance from BruceSlee they then began a survey of radiosources at a number of different
Vale Gordon S tanleywavelengths using various seainterferometers, a 4.9-m parabolic antennaand the large ‘hole-in-the-ground’ antenna.As part of this project, he and Bolton spentsome months in New Zealand during 1947,using a mobile sea interferometer to obtainrising and setting records of selectedsources. Towards the end of the life ofDover Heights as a radio astronomy fieldstation, Stanley teamed with a USFullbright Fellow, Robert Price, to searchfor deuterium emission using the ‘hole-in-the-ground’ antenna. They were notsuccessful.
Late in 1953, John Bolton accepted aposition at CALTECH in order tointroduce radio astronomy there, arriving inCalifornia in January 1954, and he wasjoined by Gordon Stanley in June of thatyear. They then began searching for asuitable site for a radio observatory butwithout initial success. While Bolton wasat the 1955 IAU meeting Stanleycontinued the search and soon settled on
Owens Valley. Construction ofan interferometer using two25.9-m parabolic dishes wascommenced in mid-1957, andcompleted two years later. In1961, a year after Bolton hadreturned to Australia, Stanleybecame the first Director of theOwens Valley RadioObservatory, a post that he wasto occupy until 1975. AsProfessor of Radio Astronomyhe made important contributionsto science over the years.
After retiring, Stanley and hiswife, Helen, lived in CarmelValley, California, up until hisdeath. Gordon Stanley will beremembered as one of thepioneers of radio astronomy inAustralia, New Zealand and theUSA, and Ken Kellermann willjoin us in preparing a fullobituary in due course.
Gordon Stanley (centre), with John Bolton(lef t) and Joe Pawsey in early 1954 (A TNF
Historic Photo Archives: 4013)
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ATNF News, Issue No 46, February 2002
In anticipation of the completion of the ATCAmillimetre-wave upgrade in mid-2003, and theavailability of a three-element prototype system thiscoming winter, a workshop on millimetre science wasconvened at the University of Melbourne on 29-30November 2001. Participants from the Australianastronomical community, as well as guests fromoverseas, came to discuss and learn about areas ofscience that could be addressed with the new ATCA.The speakers have kindly given permission for theirviewgraphs to be made available on the web at http://www.atnf.csiro.au/people/twong/atca/mm_prog.html.
The workshop began with an overview of theprototype system (three antennas with dualpolarisation receivers and limited frequencycoverage) by Tony Wong, and a presentation of first3-mm science results by Bärbel Koribalski. One ofthe highlights was the absorption spectrum ofCentaurus A in the HCO+ line (Figure 1), where thespatial filtering provided by the interferometer yields amuch cleaner spectral baseline than has been possiblewith single-dish observations. Other ATNF staffmembers who gave talks were Dick Manchester,who presented the first image of SN 1987A’s remnantat 12-mm, Bob Sault, who reviewed progress onwater vapour radiometry, and Warwick Wilson, whodiscussed plans for a wide-bandwidth correlator.
Workshop report: millimetrescience with the upgraded ATCA
The first two topical sessions focused on theinterstellar medium (ISM) and star formation,subjects that by themselves could occupy entireconferences! Although the existing millimetre arrayshave made vast strides in these areas, millimetrestudies of star-forming regions in the southern skieshave lagged far behind infrared studies as a result ofthe poor angular resolution of millimetre telescopes.The excellent sensitivity and resolution of the ATCAwill make it a very competitive instrument forstudying protostars and protoplanetary disks,especially once its continuum bandwidth has beenupgraded. Two of our invited speakers, Geoff Blake(Caltech) and Tyler Bourke (CfA), outlined severalkey areas in which ATCA observations can make asignificant contribution to our understanding of starformation and young stellar objects. Cornelia Lang(University of Massachusetts) showed us that in thehighly energetic Galactic Centre region, moleculargas seems to play multiple roles: forming massivestellar clusters, tracing magnetic field lines, andfeeding a massive black hole.
Millimetre spectroscopy is a rich and rapidly growingfield, given the large number of molecular lines in thispart of the spectrum. Several speakers, includingMaria Hunt (UNSW), Robert Smith(UNSW@ADFA), and Mark Wardle (SydneyUniversity), discussed the potential for probing thephysical and chemical properties of the ISM usingmolecular lines. We also heard a great deal aboutmethanol masers from Vincent Minier (UNSW),Andrej Sobolev (Ural State University), and DinahCragg (Monash). These masers, which occur atvarious frequencies throughout the 3-mm and 12-mmbands, appear to trace the early stages of massivestar formation, although their excitation mechanisms
remain a subject of active research. Indeed, itwas clear that much remains to be learnt frommillimetre lines other than the ubiquitous COline, which is a good thing considering that thefrequency coverage of the ATCA may notextend up to the CO (1-0) line at 115 GHz.
We rounded out the workshop with a few talkson extragalactic science. Steve Curran(UNSW) presented some of his thesis work onmolecular gas in galaxy nuclei as observed withthe SEST, emphasising the desirability ofhigher-resolution data—for example, to confirmthe presence of molecular outflows. TommyWiklind (Onsala) reviewed searches formolecular gas at high redshift, important forunravelling the star formation history of theuniverse and obtaining redshifts forsubmillimetre-detected objects. While COFigure 1: The ATCA absorption spectrum of Cent aurus A
in the HCO + line.
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ATNF visitors programThe ATNF has a modest programme to supportdistinguished visitors who wish to visit for periodsthat typically range from a few weeks to a fewmonths. Last year, we were delighted to have hadvisits under this scheme from Mike Disney(University of Wales Cardiff), Barney Rickett (UCSan Diego), Frank Briggs (Kapteyn), Carl Gwinn(UC Santa Barbara), and Don Campbell (Cornell).Currently, we have Thijs van der Hulst (Kapteyn)visiting until July 2002 and Jim Cordes (Cornell)through March. In a few months time we areexpecting to host Russ Taylor (Calgary) and RogierWindhorst (Arizona State). Current and futurevisitors to Epping and the Observatories are listed at:http://www.atnf.csiro.au/people/current_visitors.html. Enquiries about thedistinguished visitors scheme can be made to theDirector, myself or any ATNF staff member.
emission is difficult to detect except in nearby orlensed sources, absorption in the CO or HCO+ linescan be observed out to high redshift by ATCA, aslong as a suitably bright continuum source exists.Continuing the theme of quasar absorption lines werepresentations by Rachel Webster and MichaelDrinkwater (Melbourne University) on searching formolecular gas in front of dust-reddened quasars, andMichael Murphy (UNSW) on using CO absorptionlines to detect changes in the fine-structure constantwith redshift.
As is inevitable with such a small meeting, manyareas could not be properly represented, including,among other things, cosmology, solar system science,extragalactic megamasers, and polarimetry.Hopefully these omissions can be rectified at thenext millimetre workshop! In the meantime, weencourage ATCA users to learn more about themillimetre systems by following the links to the 3-mmand 12-mm pages at http://www.atnf.csiro.au/observers/manuals.html, and to consider applyingfor observing time this year. Also, look for a (longer)summary of the workshop, as well as several papersby invited speakers, in an upcoming issue of PASA.
The principal organisers (myself and AndrewMelatos of Melbourne University) would like tothank the staff and students of Melbourne Universityfor helping to make the workshop a success. Weparticularly enjoyed the excellent catered meals andthe souvenir mugs. We also appreciate thegenerosity of the MNRF International CollaborationCommittee, which helped to support the travel costsof many of our visitors.
At the beginning of January 2002, Dr DavidMcConnell completed his term as Officer-in-Charge(OiC) of the Narrabri Observatory (AustraliaTelescope Compact Array). See the later ATCAreport for more details. Taking over from DrMcConnell is Dr Bob Sault.
Bob completed a Bachelor of Engineering (FirstClass Honours) and a PhD in image processing atthe University of Sydney, before taking a ResearchOfficer position at the University between 1985 and1986. He was then a Research Scientist in theAstronomy Department at the University of Illinoisfrom 1986 to 1990. From 1990 to 2001 Bob was aResearch Scientist with the ATNF, based inMarsfield. He has also had stints as visiting scientistat the Tata Institute for Fundamental Research(GMRT project) and the Netherlands Foundation forResearch in Astronomy (twice). Bob assumed OiCduties at the Observatory in January 2002.
Bob’s research interests range across variedsoftware, engineering, and astronomical projects,including the MIRIAD software package, phasecorrection systems for the Compact Array,microwave background experiments, Jupiter science,interference mitigation, and high-frequencycalibrators for the Compact Array.
It is with great pleasure that I am able to announcethat Frank Briggs from the University of Groningenhas accepted a joint ATNF/ANU appointment as anadjunct professor at the ANU. Frank will be basedboth at Mt Stromlo and the ATNF, and will beinvolved in Square Kilometre Array research anddevelopment, including interference mitigation, andother projects, including of course the neutralhydrogen work for which he is famous. He hopes toarrive in the next few months and I’m sure you willall join me in giving Frank a warm welcome.
The main Australian proposal for the SKA antennaelement utilises the multi-beaming capability of theLuneburg lens. This lens is basically a sphericallysymmetrical ball of graded dielectric such that theincident field is focussed by the lens to a point on its’opposite side. Given the spherical symmetry, anyangle of incident field is focused to a point on thefocal surface surrounding the lens. Hence, it isnaturally a multi-beam scanning antenna by providingone feed per beam and tracking a source by feedmovement.
To construct the lenses for the SKA out ofconventional dielectric materials is not a viableproposition given weight, loss and costconsiderations. From the outset, the CSIRO SKAproposal utilising the Luneburg lens has beendependent on the successful development of artificialdielectrics where weight, loss and cost are reducedconsiderably compared to currently availablematerials. Currently, a joint project between fourCSIRO divisions (CTIP, ATNF, CMS [CSIROMolecular Science] and CMST [CSIROManufacturing Science and Technology] – the latter
Progress on Luneburg lens development
The CSIRO (ATNF and Telecommunications and Industrial Physics [CTIP]), and US telecommunicationscompany TRW have formed a strategic alliance to develop high-performance gallium arsenide and indiumphosphide components for radio astronomy, advanced millimetre-wave sensors and telecommunicationssystems.
Velocium, TRW’s telecommunication products company, ATNF and CTIP have already worked together onthe high frequency (12 and 3.5-mm wavelength bands) upgrade of the Australia Telescope. Indium phosphide(InP) low-noise amplifiers and digital receiver chips, designed by ATNF and CTIP engineers and fabricatedby Velocium, are a key part of the upgrade.
The Australia Telescope is a demanding test bed for the new InP chips, which will help improve the futuredesign of InP components for other commercial sensor and telecommunication systems. CTIP startedworking with TRW in 1993, and in 1999 CTIP and the ATNF gained early access to TRW’s InP technologyfor exploratory research, which helped expedite the technology’s development.
Velocium is part of TRW Space & Electronics, an operating unit of TRW Inc. TRW provides advancedtechnology products and services for the aerospace, telecommunications, automotive and informationtechnology markets worldwide. TRW’s news releases can be found at http://www.trw.com.
two divisions based in Clayton, Melbourne) isunderway to develop suitable artificial dielectricmaterials for constructing the Luneburg lens. Whiledetails cannot be given here as there are patentspending on some of the processes involved, inoutline, low density low loss foam is being dopedwith graded small amounts of high dielectric low lossceramics such a Titania to produce artificial low loss,low permittivity dielectrics. Some sample materialhas already arrived from Melbourne and over thenext few weeks we expect to assess many moresamples. Our colleagues in Melbourne are veryconfident they can produce what we want and areparticipating in the project with great enthusiasm.
Aside from the work on artificial dielectrics, work isin progress on the electromagnetic and mechanicaldesign of the lens and associated feed system. Forthe next issue we should be able to report on sometangible results from all of the above investigations.
From December 2001 to February 2002 the CSIROSummer Vacation Scholarship Program was held withparticipating divisions including the Australia TelescopeNational Facility and Telecommunications andIndustrial Physics (at both the Marsfield and Lindfieldsites). There were 235 applications for the 22 positions,10 with the ATNF (two of these at the Paul WildObservatory, Narrabri) and 12 for CTIP. The studentsworked on projects with a scientist or an engineer fora period of eight to twelve weeks. This year’s programincluded two Summer Legal Clerkship recipientsworking under the guidance of Anne McManus. Wealso welcomed Naomi McClure-Griffiths to theorganising team.
The program emphasis is on providing the studentsexperience in the working environment of a NationalResearch Facility, as well as catering to group activities.These includes a series of introductory lectures on thework of the ATNF and CTIP, and tours of the CSIROMarsfield and Lindfield laboratories. The program also
CSIRO Summer V acation Scholarship Programincludes a weekly afternoon session where a staffmember from the either the ATNF or CTIP talks on atopic of their choosing.
The highlight of the program is the Observatory Tripwhere the students work in small teams and are giventhe opportunity to tour and work on their own projectsat either the Parkes Radio Telescope or at the AustraliaTelescope Compact Array at Narrabri. Theobservatory trips were attended by Naomi Mclure-Griffiths at Parkes and Bob Sault at the ATCA.
The program concluded with a Summer VacationStudents Symposium, organised by the students. Thiswas held on Thursday 7 February 2002 at theRadiophysics Laboratory Lecture Theatre in Marsfield.
The next round of Summer Vacation Scholarshipswill be advertised around mid-June 2002.
Standing L to R Back row: Naomi McClure-Griffiths (A TNF), Jiufu Lim, Andrea V arsavsky , Richard Dixon, Nicolai Grosse,Edward T aylor , Aidan Hot an, Arron Cleary , Bob Sault (A TNF).
Standing L to R Middle row: V anee Harichandran, Jessica Chapman (A TNF), Vicky Safouris, Kathleen Anonuevo, LauraFrost, Suzanne Kenyon, Thulasi Karunakaran, Paul Thomp son, Jemima Harris, Lucia Bromley-Gambaro (A TNF).
Sitting L to R: Lester Chua, Arvind V asan, Nicholas Burkett, Mark Cheung, Kristen Feher , Phillip King, Sebastian Corlette.Absent: Huda Alam, Tammy Humphrey
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ATNF News, Issue No 46, February 2002
As reported in the last issue of the ATNF News, theATNF was lead Division on a BHAG (Big HairyAudacious Goal) proposal, in response to a call fromCSIRO’s Chief Executive, Dr Geoff Garrett.BHAGs deal with the areas of science andtechnology in which CSIRO hope to make a nationaland global impact, over the coming decades. TheATNF-led proposal was titled ‘Catalysing theAustralian Space Industry’ and was one of fifteenproposals submitted across all CSIRO Divisions.
Dr Graham Harris, CSIRO BHAG coordinator,provided the following feedback on the ATNFproposal:
“The space BHAG proposal was not selected forfurther development by Geoff Garrett and the group.The final decision was based both on the quality ofthe bids and the cohesion of the bid team, togetherwith the outcomes of wide consultation with SectorChairs and senior representatives of Governmentand industry. Each of the BHAGs addresses anissue of national importance where CSIRO can playa timely and critical role. We were looking for areaswhere key science breakthroughs could be takenright through to the stage of adoption and valuegeneration. At this stage we have seven BHAG
Result s of BHAG process
It is a pleasure to welcome Jess O’Brien andBradley Warren from the RSAA, Mt Stromlo intothe ATNF co-supervision program. Jess’ project is“Probing the shape of dark halos of thin edge-ondisk galaxies”. Her RSAA supervisor is KenFreeman and her ATNF advisor is Lister Staveley-Smith. Bradley’s project is “The Nature of NearbyHigh HI Mass-to-Light Ratio Field Galaxies”. Hissupervisors are Helmut Jerjen (RSAA) and BaerbelKoribalski (ATNF).
Well done to two students at Swinburne University,Aidan Hotan and Haydon Knight, who have justbeen awarded a prestigious CSIRO scholarship.These are brand new scholarships. For the year2002, these scholarships were available for inter-divisional projects, though we expect the scheme willsoon be expanded to cover pure astronomy projects.For further details, see http://www.atnf.csiro.au/education/graduate/csiro_scholars.html.
It is also a pleasure to congratulate two recentlygraduated students. Robert Minchin from theUniversity of Wales Cardiff obtained his PhD for athesis entitled “Properties of Galaxies found in adeep blind neutral hydrogen survey”. Maria Huntobtained her PhD from the University of WesternSydney for a thesis entitled “Molecules in southernmolecular clouds: A millimetre-wave study of densecores”.
The 2002 Annual Student Symposium will be held inMarsfield on 1 May. Attendees are asked toregister by 17 April. For details, see http://www.atnf.csiro.au/research/conferences/student_symposia/ASS2002/ or check with theSOC - Erik Muller, Daniel Mitchell and JessO’Brien.
At the latest ATUC meeting, new publicationarrangements were announced for co-supervisedstudents. As has always been the case, ATNF-affiliated students must include their university astheir primary affiliation on any paper. However,students may also list the ATNF as a secondaryaffiliation (note that this may have financialimplications for the University). If the ATNFaffiliation is given, then the ATNF will contribute50% of the pro-rata page charges for the student, ifbased in Australia. It is recommended that ATNF-
ATNF graduate student program
affiliated students who do NOT list the ATNF as anaffiliation in the author list include a footnote on thefront page to state that:
“name is a graduate student jointly enrolled at theuniversity name and the Australia TelescopeNational Facility.”
Co-supervised students who are first authors onpublications must have their paper internally refereedby an ATNF staff member (who is not an author onthe paper), following standard ATNF publicationpolicy. See http://www.atnf.csiro.au/research/publications/policy.html. As always, all authorsshould include the appropriate acknowledgement forthe use of ATNF facilities. See http://www.atnf.csiro.au/research/publications/.
Please consult the Graduate Student pages, orcontact me, if further clarification is needed. Seehttp://www.atnf.csiro.au/education/graduate/.
system at Tidbinbilla, to work between 18 and 22GHz. The current downconversion system is greatlyreducing sensitivity, and thus the use that can bemade of our Host Country time allocation. Thecommittee recommended that a comprehensivedialogue take place between the scientific andengineering communities, with the goal of identifyingSKA demonstrator technologies which will yield thebest scientific returns in addition to significantengineering advances.
ATUC congratulated the organisers of the verysuccessful Synthesis Workshop and Parkes OpenDay. During the meeting Bob Sault gave a rundownof the workshop and outlined plans for the next, in2003. The members expressed support for theestablishment of small groups to test AIPS++intensively, involving outside institutions and theATNF.
There was a discussion lead by Tony Wong on theoptions for weather-dependent scheduling of theATCA. The next 12 months will be a trial period forcapturing statistics on mm observing conditions.ATUC suggested trialling a system of two dutyastronomers during scheduled mm time, to ensurefull use of good weather. The committee also madesome recommendations of how the mm systemshould be advertised to the user community duringthe commissioning period.
ATUC also recommended a limited trial of overseasremote observing be conducted, with at least thesame conditions and restrictions as for currentremote observing.
In response to the issues raised through discussion ofthe science outcomes expected from the SKADemonstrators, ATUC organised a session during theUniversity of Sydney Workshop, held 3-4 December,2001, and titled “Next-Generation Astronomicalsurveys: Opportunities and Science Drivers”. Ideasfor science goals with the SKA Demonstrators werediscussed.
The next ATUC meeting will be held on11-12 April2002.
proposals being developed but I stress that we areonly taking options on these at this stage. i.e. nofinal funding decisions have been made and nomoney will change hands until we have a welldeveloped business and project plan which includesnew collaborations and partnerships. The sevenBHAG themes are: Light Metals, Energy, HealthyCountry, Oceans, Agri-food, eAustralia andpreventative Health. Each of these themes is beingsubjected to a full ex ante financial analysis whichwill help us to identify the investment opportunities. Iexpect that some of the better developed BHAGswill begin to get off the ground later this financialyear.”
The second meeting of the Australia TelescopeUsers Committee for 2001 was held on 13-14November 2001. There were 12 members inattendance and the meeting was chaired by Dr AnneGreen. The committee welcomed the following newmembers: Dr Brad Gibson, Dr Martin Zwaan, DrTony Wong, Dr Steven Tingay, Ms Tracy Getts andMr Daniel Mitchell.
In the Open session on the 13th the meetingreceived status reports from each facility and theAIPS++ project. Ray Norris announced the moveof Warwick Wilson to head the Engineering ServicesGroup, and the resignation of Dave McConnell asNarrabri OiC. He forecast ATNF will be looking toincrease staff numbers, as part of the CSIRO-wide“go for growth” strategy.
Graham Moorey outlined the timeline for the mmupgrade project. Currently there are three antennaswith prototype 3-mm/12-mm frontends. By 30December 2002, an additional three antennas shouldbe equipped with “final production” frontends,working at 12 mm. Exactly how to proceed withretrofitting the 3-mm receivers is unclear, but thetarget date for five final 3-mm frontends and sixfinal 12-mm receivers is 30 April 2003. Thelongstanding question of improving polarisation purityof the 13-cm receivers was discussed, and ATUCrequested a timescale for completing this upgrade, inconjunction with the 20-cm receiver upgrade. JimLovell outlined a proposal for a new downconversion
Australia T elescope UsersCommittee Report
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ATNF News, Issue No 46, February 2002
The ATNF, in conjuction with CSIROTelecommunications and IndustrialPhysics, held an Open Day at theMarsfield site on Saturday, 24November , 2001. The day was agreat success with well over athousand members of the publicwandering the laboratories, admiringour displays and chatting toastronomers and engineers.
In feedback, visitors revealed thatthey greatly enjoyed the Open Dayand learnt a lot about what the ATNFand CTIP do, and also about theCSIRO in general. In particular, thetours of the ATNF receiverlaboratories (Figure 1) and theSquare Kilometre Array exhibit (Figure 2) were bighits with the Open Day visitors. In addition therewere exhibits featuring remote observing with theATCA, an “astronomer’s corridor”, an exhibitexplaining aspects of the Parkes radio telescope andcelebrating its 40th birthday, and an area where
ATNF open day at Marsfield
Figure 1: Evan Davis answering questionsabout receivers.
Figure 2: Aaron Chippendale explains acomputer simulation of a Luneburg lens.
visitors could “ask an astronomer” questions aboutastronomy (Figure 3).
Thanks go to the many members of staff whocontributed to the success of theOpen Day, spending time andeffort preparing the displays andbeing there on the day to makethe event enjoyable for thevisitors.
A set of web pages showing aphotographic tour of the OpenDay activities is available at:http://www.atnf.csiro.au/news/openday/index.html.
