Observing proposals are invited for the IRAM Plateau de Bure Interferometer (PdBI), for the period May 15, 1998 to Nov. 15, 1998. The deadline for applications is March 5th, 1998. The available frequency range will be 82 GHz to 116 GHz for the 3mm band, and 210-245 GHz for the 1.3 mm band.
Details of the PdBI and the observing procedures are given in the document ``An Introduction to the IRAM Plateau de Bure Interferometer'' (copies can be obtained from the address below, or from Internet via the World-Wide-Web; use IRAM's home page http://iram.fr/). Proposers should read this document carefully before submitting any proposal.
Proposals should be sent to
IRAM Scientific Secretariat
Interferometer Observing Proposal
300 Rue de la Piscine
F-38406 Saint Martin d'Hères Cedex
FRANCE
IRAM expects to schedule and complete between 30 to 50 projects in this period, with an elapsed time of at least two months between start and end of any given project. Selection will be based on scientific merit, technical feasibility, and adequacy to the instrument.
For this call for proposals, please note the following:
Proposals should be submitted for one of the 4 categories defined below:
The proposal category will have to be specified on the proposal cover sheet, and should be carefully considered by proposers.
Heavy maintenance is foreseen for the antennas. Accordingly, the
Plateau de Bure array will operate:
- in 4 antenna configurations for May to September.
- in 5 antenna configurations for October and November.
The available configurations include:
| 5 Antenna configurations | |
| Name | Stations |
| D | W05 W00 E03 N05 N09 |
| C1 | W05 W01 E10 N07 N13 |
| C2 | W12 W09 E10 N05 N15 |
| B1 | W12 E18 E23 N13 N20 |
| B2 | W23 W12 E12 N17 N29 |
| A | W27 W23 E16 E24 N29 |
With 5 antennas, the following configuration sets are available:
| Set | Configs | Main purpose |
| D | D | ``Low'' resolution at 1.3 mm |
| CD | D, C2 or C1 | 3.5'' resolution at 3mm, 1.8'' resolution at 1.3 mm |
| CC | C1, C2 | Slightly higher resolution than CD. |
| BC | B1, C2 | 2'' resolution at 3 mm |
| BB | B1, B2, C2 | Better sensitivity than BC |
| AB | A, B1, B2 | 1'' resolution at 3 mm, 0.5'' resolution at 1.3mm |
There is a possibility of choice between CD and CC arrays when the C2 configuration has been performed for sources in which the resolution choice is unclear. At a higher resolution level, a similar choice between CC and BC or BB is possible.
Experience based on the past years shows that 1.3 mm observations are seldom feasible in summer time, and that such observations are possible only for objects transiting during the night of the August to October period. Accordingly, 1.3mm or dual-frequency projects for other objects will be considered as ``Category 4'' proposals, i.e. will be carried out on a best effort basis only, weather permitting.
Software is available to provide real-time atmospheric phase compensation on spectral and continuum data, as well as a-posteriori processing for continuum data. Experience shows that a final phase noise below 30 degrees at 230 GHz is obtained under good circumstances.
Configuration A will NOT be scheduled for the next session.
The rms noise can be computed from
where
is the system temperature in 
scale (150 K below 110 GHz,
300 K at 115 GHz, 500 K at 230 GHz)
is the conversion factor from Kelvin to Jansky (22 at 3mm, 35 at 1.3mm)
is an efficiency factor due to atmospheric phase noise (0.9 at
3 mm, 0.6 at 1.3 mm)
is the number of antennas (4 or 5), and 
is the basic number of
configurations (with 5 antennas 1 for D, 2 for CD, 3 for BC)
Below 110 GHz, receivers offer best performance in LSB tuning
with high rejection (20 dB): expected system temperatures are
(in 
scale) 150 to 200 K for the summer time. Above 110 GHz,
best performance is obtained with USB tuning, low rejection
(4 to 6 dB): expected system temperatures are 300 K at 115 GHz.
DSB tuning is possible over the whole frequency range, but the
system temperature may degrade significantly.
The 1.3 mm receivers give DSB tuning with typical T 
below 50 K.
Expected SSB system temperature are 400 to 500 K.
The guaranteed tuning range is 210-245 GHz, but it may be possible to reach lower frequencies for specific cases. Higher frequencies are not feasible because of limitations in the triplers.
The interferometer operates in the J2000.0 system. For best positioning accuracy, source coordinates must be in the J2000.0 system; position errors up to 0.3'' may occur otherwise.
Please do not forget to specify LSR velocities for the sources. For pure continuum projects, the ``special'' velocity NULL (no Doppler tracking) can be used.
Coordinates and velocities in the proposal MUST BE CORRECT: A coordinate error is a potential cause for proposal rejection.
The correlator has 6 independent units, each being tunable anywhere in the 110-610 MHz band, and providing 4 choices of bandwidth/channel configuration: 160 MHz/64, 80 MHz/128, 40 MHz/256 and 20 MHz/256. For the 40, 80 and 160 MHz bandwidth, the two central channels may be perturbed by the Gibbs phenomenon (depending on continuum strength): it is recommended to avoid centering the most important part of the lines in the middle of the band of the correlator unit.
The 6 units can be independently placed either on IF1 (3 mm receiver) or on IF2 (1.3 mm receiver).
One (and only one) of the 6 units has been retrofitted to offer a higher frequency resolution (40 kHz instead of 80 kHz). This is obtained by operating at half clock speed and inserting an anti-aliasing filter of effective bandwidth 8 MHz. Because the filter reduces the input power to the sampler, this unit should be placed near the maximum amplitude of the IF bandpass: band edges must be avoided.
For safety reasons, the sun avoidance circle has been extended to 45 degrees. Please take this into account for your sources and for the calibrators.
The PdBI has mosaicing capabilities, but the pointing accuracy may be a limiting factor at the highest frequencies. Please contact R. Neri in case of doubts.
Proposers should be aware of constraints for data reduction:
A Local Contact will be assigned to every proposal which does not involve an in-house collaborator. Depending upon the programme complexity, IRAM may require an in-house collaborator instead of the normal local contact.
All proposals will be reviewed for technical feasibility in parallel to being sent to the members of the Programme Committee. Please help in this task by submitting technically precise proposals. Scientific justification should be kept within 2 pages. Note that your proposal must be complete and exact: velocities, position and frequency setup must be exactly specified.
Please contact R. Neri, R. Lucas, or S. Guilloteau in case of doubt about non-standard program feasibility.
The documentation for the IRAM Plateau de Bure Interferometer includes documents of general interest to potential users:
Finally, we would like to stress again the importance of the quality of the observing proposal. The technical preparation of observing proposals is unfortunately often insufficient. In the past, proposals were received which did not even include exact observing frequencies or even source coordinates, or worse, with coordinates with the wrong epoch !... The IRAM interferometer is a powerful, but complex and unique instrument, and proposal preparation requires special care. Information is available in the documentation, and the IRAM staff can help in case of doubts if contacted well before the deadline. Note that the proposal should not only justify the scientific interest, but also demonstrate how the Plateau de Bure interferometer will bring new information.