By Brenda Matthews & Gerald Schieven (NRC-HAA)
(With contributions from Jess Speedie, Hamid Hassani, Brent Carlson)
ALMA Reaches Observing Milestone
In Cycle 10, a record-breaking total of 4,250 hours of science-quality data were successfully collected on the 12-m Array, greatly surpassing the previous record of 3,787 hours achieved during Cycle 5. ALMA also set new records on its other arrays, with 3,769 hours recorded on the 7-m Array and 2,723 hours on the Total Power Array.
Cycle 11 Update
ALMA is currently in configuration C-3, and it will move into C-4 in January until the February shutdown.
Cycle 11 ALMA Ambassadors
Two Cycle 11 ALMA Ambassadors were selected in Canada. Both Jess Speedie and Hamid Hassani opted to run Data Reduction Workshops.
The ALMA Data Reduction Workshop hosted at the University of Victoria by Jess Speedie took place on 22 October 2024. A full-day event designed to support astronomers of all experience levels, the workshop brought together 18 in-person participants from UVic, NRC Herzberg and UBC, as well as 6 virtual participants from Zambia, China, India and the USA. The program featured lectures covering the fundamentals of radio interferometry, an introduction to CASA, and a special guest lecture by Dr. Helen Kirk on using the CANFAR Science Platform to work with ALMA data. Attendees participated in hands-on tutorials focused on continuum and spectral line imaging, as well as manual and automated self-calibration techniques. Materials from the workshop, including tutorial scripts and lecture slides are available.
The ALMA Data Processing Workshop hosted at the University of Alberta by Hamid Hassani took place on October 24, 2024. This full-day event brought together about 15 in-person participants from the University of Alberta, University of Calgary, University of Lethbridge, and Athabasca University, along with several online attendees from the USA, Mexico, and Iran. Designed to support astronomers of all experience levels, the program included sessions on radio interferometry fundamentals, ALMA data calibration, CASA imaging, array combination techniques like feathering, and data visualization with CARTA. A highlight of the workshop was a session on the PHANGS ALMA pipeline, presented by Dr. Erik Rosolowsky, which covered staging, imaging, and post-processing workflows.
Attendees participated in hands-on tutorials, working directly with ALMA datasets, and gained practical skills for reducing and analyzing radio data. Workshop materials, including guides and scripts, were shared with participants and are also available.
Renewal of the NRC-NSF agreement for Canadian participation in ALMA
An ALMA Review Panel was struck in September to provide a recommendation to NRC regarding the community’s enthusiasm for the renewal of the current agreement between NRC and the NSF that commits Canada to providing 7.125% of the North American ALMA contribution of 37.5%. For our 7.125% contribution, Canadian astronomers access the pool of ALMA time available to North American researchers (33.75% of the total time, taking into account the 10% of time that goes to Chile).
To provide input to the panel’s efforts, the Millimetre Astronomy Group (MAG) at NRC prepared on online survey of CASCA members regarding ALMA use and satisfaction. We received 49 responses. Some of the key findings were:
- 96% affirm that the current arrangement for Canadian access to ALMA time is a good investment for Canadian astronomy;
- 95% of those who have applied to ALMA as a PI or co-I have been successful;
- 92% of respondents intend to propose to ALMA in the future (80% have already done so);
- 75% reported that ALMA data they received was amazing, with the same fraction reporting a publication resulting from their data;
- Just 22% of respondents have participated in a press release based on ALMA data;
- 60% report that ALMA data have played a key role in the training of HQP;
- Just over 40% report using the CANFAR Science Platform to work with ALMA data.
A full summary of the survey results is available.
If you are interested in using CANFAR to work with ALMA data, please contact Helen Kirk via email (helen.kirk[at]nrc-cnrc.gc.ca).
ATAC Update
The Advanced Technology ALMA Correlator (ATAC), formerly known as the ALMA TALON Central Signal Processor (AT.CSP) is an NRC-NRAO project. In June of this year, ATAC passed the Preliminary Design Review (PDR) and the delta-SRR (Subsystem Requirements Review). Effort is now focused on detailed design work for the Critical Design Review (CDR) to be held in Charlottesville, VA in Sept 2025.
Recent hires related to the project include a new Project Manager, new Configuration/Document manager and a new Systems Engineer. Two new FRGA engineering hires are expected to start in the new year. DRAO will host the entire ATAC team onsite for brainstorming and planning sessions in the week of 20 Jan 2025.
ALMA Primer Video Series
The ALMA Primer Instructional Video series, which can be found on the Science Portal, is designed to provide a basic introduction to radio interferometry, calibration, imaging, and other topics in short (5-10 minute), easy-to-digest segments. As a work in progress, new videos are released periodically. Recent videos included a series explaining sidebands, basebands and spectral windows, with practical examples on tuning setups. A new video on how ALMA receivers work is under production, and is expected to be released by March 2025.
Other videos in the series include an Introduction to Radio Interferometry, Calibration, CLEAN, and much more. Subscribe to the ALMA Primer Video Series YouTube channel to be alerted to new videos as they are released.
We are always looking for ideas for new videos, and especially looking for people who would like to help with script generation, animation, and narration. If you have an idea or would like to join the Primer Video Working Group (at any level of effort), please contact gerald.schieven[at]nrc-cnrc.gc.ca.
Graphics credit: Image by Sophia Dagnello (NRAO/AUI/NSF)
