Examples of calculation of time efficiency ratios

• A) PSW scan: The time needed for a position switch scan (8 subscans with integration time = 30s ON source or on OFF position at from the source, set subs 8, psw /t 30 /sym) is thus roughly:

  

  the efficiency ratio (integration time/observing time) is .

• B) WSW scan: The time needed for a wobbler switch scan (8 subscans with s,
  set subs 8, wsw 240 /t 40 /p 2) is:

  

• C) RASTER scan: The time needed for a `Raster' scan (i.e. several ONs for one OFF by using the OBS command `RASTER') can be estimated from the values of , and given above. For a raster scan consisting of 15 ONs of 30 s and 8 OFFs of 45 s, such as:

  RASTER 84 6 0 6/REF 3600 0/ON 2/T 30 45,

  the calculation gives:

  ,

  

  and R= 0.78.

  Note that the measured average time for such a raster scan was actually 1050 s and R= 0.74.

• D)For a 3-hour observation on one object, one must add 3 pointings and one focussing, and at least 10 calibrations:

  

  i.e. , or 2500s (0.7h), to which you may add your own reaction time, typing time, etc...

  In total, in this typical PSW mode, you can expect to observe in 3 hours (10800 s) about (10800-2500)/ scans (total 7000s (2h)). The observing `efficiency' is thus only .

  In the Wobbling mode, these numbers would drop to 21 scans, s and . (You could increase them somewhat by setting set subs 12).

• E) For a `complete' 8-hour long PSW or WSW observation on the same object, with one single tuning (plus one retuning) per receiver, you have (3 receivers operating simultaneously):

  

  The following preparation costs about 0.4 hours:

  First slew to the source: 5 min
  Skydip: 5 min
  Observation of a Line Calibrator: 15 min (with slew)
  

  Observations: 6 h (including 3.7 to 3.9 h of integration ON+OFF source, see example C above).