As every year, we plan to carry out extensive technical work during the summer period. This year, we will focus on the maintenance of the antennas and the observatory's buildings. Despite these technical activities, we intend to carry out regular scientific observations with at least five antennas during the whole period. The scheduling will be optimized according to experience gained last summer and take into account the efficiency of the five element array. So, unlike 2001, we expect to achieve a better sensitivity and mapping speed during the summer period. Taking these considerations into account, we are confident to be able to schedule about 20 to 30 projects, somewhat more than last summer.
We plan to start the maintenance not later than at the end of May, and plan to schedule two configurations (C and D) between June and October. For observers interested in high-angular resolution studies, we tentatively plan a switch back to the six element array and a move to an extended configuration (B) at the end of October, i.e. still during the summer period.
We strongly encourage observers to submit proposals that can be executed under summer period conditions. To keep the procedure as simple as possible, we ask to focus on:
Details of the PdBI and the observing procedures are given in the document ``The Plateau de Bure Interferometer (PdBI)''. A copy can be obtained from the address below or from the World-Wide-Web at http://iram.fr/PDBI/bure.html). Proposers should read this document carefully before submitting any proposal.
Do not use characters smaller than 11pt, which could make your proposal illegible when duplicated or faxed. For the same reasons, also avoid sending figures with grey scale maps by fax. In case your proposal reaches us in time, but is incomplete or unreadable when copied, we will try our best to contact you. The Principal Investigator will receive by return mail an acknowledgement of receipt and the proposal number.
Proposal templates as well as the Latex style file proposal.sty may be retrieved by anonymous ftp from server iram.fr (in directory dist/proposal); or from the IRAM web pages under the link http://iram.fr/proposal/proposal.html. In case of problems, contact the secretary, Mrs Cathy Berjaud (berjaud@iram.fr).
The scientific aims of the proposed program should be explained in 2 pages of text maximum, plus up to two pages of figures, tables, and references. Proposals should be self-explanatory, clearly state their aims, and explain the need of the Plateau de Bure Interferometer.
In all cases, indicate on the first page whether your proposal is the resubmission of a proposal or the continuation of a previously accepted proposal. In case of a resubmission, state very briefly in the introduction why the proposal is being resubmitted (e.g. improved scientific justification, observational restrictions).
For this call for proposals, please note the following specificities (details on receivers, signal to noise, atmospheric phase compensation, observing modes, data reduction and local contacts have not changed, and can be found in the January 1999 issue of the IRAM Newsletter):
| 5 antenna configurations | |
| Name | Stations |
| D | W05 W00 E03 N05 N09 |
| C | W12 W09 E10 N05 N15 |
| B | W12 E18 E23 N13 N20 |
Part of the projects will have to be scheduled at the end of the
summer period when the six-element array is expected to be back in
operation. Projects that happen to be observed with four antennas
only, will be adjusted in uv-coverage and observing time.
The following configuration sets are available:
| Set | Main purpose |
| D | ``Low'' resolution at 1.3 mm |
| CD | 3.5'' resolution at 3mm |
| BC | 2'' resolution at 3 mm |
Finally, enter ANY in the proposal form if your project doesn't need any particular configuration.