MPIfR Bolometer arrays

The bolometer arrays, MAMBO-1 (37 pixels) and MAMBO-2 (117 pixels), are provided by the Max-Planck-Institut für Radioastronomie. They consist of concentric hexagonal rings of horns centered on the central horn. Spacing between horns is $\simeq 20''$. Each pixel has a HPBW of 11$''$. We expect that MAMBO-2 will be normally used, but MAMBO-1 is kept as a backup.

The effective sensitivity of MAMBO-1 for onoff and mapping observations is 39 mJys$^\frac{1}{2}$. For MAMBO-2 effective sensitivities of 46 mJys$^\frac{1}{2}$ (ON/OFF mode) and 52 mJys$^\frac{1}{2}$ (mapping mode) were measured. The rms, in mJy, of a MAMBO-2 map is typically

$$rms = 0.4 f \sqrt{v_{scan} \Delta s}$$

where $v_{scan}$, in arcsec/sec, is the velocity in the scanning direction and $\Delta s$, in arcsec, is the step size in the orthogonal direction. The factor $f$ is 1 (2) for sources of size $<30'' (>60'')$. It is assumed that the map is made large enough that all beams cover the source. The sensitivities apply to bolometric summer conditions ( $\tau(\small {250{\rm GHz}})\sim$ 0.3, elevation 45 deg, and application of skynoise filtering algorithms). In cases where skynoise filtering algorithms are not or not fully effective (e.g. extended source structure, atmosphere not sufficiently stable), the effective sensitivity is typically about a factor of 2 worse. For those projects, only atmospheric conditions with low skynoise (i.e. stable atmosphere, no clouds, little turbulence) are recommened unless the expected signal is about 1 Jy/beam or stronger.

The bolometer arrays are mostly used in two basic observing modes, ON/OFF and mapping. Previous experience with MAMBO-2 shows that the ON/OFF reaches typically an rms noise of $\sim2.3$ mJy in 10 min of total observing time (about 200 sec of ON source, or about 400 sec on sky integration time) under stable conditions. Up to 30 percent lower noise may be obtained in perfect weather. In this observing mode, the noise integrates down with time $t$ as $\sqrt{t}$ to rms noise levels below 0.5 mJy.

In the mapping mode, the telescope is scanning in the direction of the wobbler throw (default: azimuth) in such a way that all pixels see the source once. A typical single map³ with MAMBO-2 covering a fully and homogeneously sampled area of $150''\times150''$ (scanning speed: $5''$per sec, raster step: $8''$) reaches an rms of 2.8 mJy/beam in 1.9 hours if skynoise filtering is effective. Much more time is needed (see Time Estimator) if sky noise filtering cannot be used. The area actually scanned ( $8.0'\times6.5'$) must be larger than the map size (add the wobbler throw and the array size ($4'$), the source extent, and some allowance for baseline determination) if the EHK-algorithm is used to restore properly extended emission. Shorter scans may lead to problems in restoring extended structure. Mosaicing is also possible to map larger areas. Under many circumstances, maps may be co-added to reach lower noise levels. If maps with an rms $\lower.5ex\hbox{$\; \buildrel < \over \sim \;$}1$ mJy are proposed, the proposers should contact the experts.

The bolometers are used with the wobbling secondary mirror (wobbling at a rate of 2 Hz). The wobbling direction which used to be fixed in azimuth, can now be freely chosen within some limits (see IRAM Newsletter No. 61). This allows in virtually all cases to adapt the wobbling/scanning direction to the source under study. Nevertheless, the orientation of the beams on the sky changes with hour angle due to parallactic and Nasmyth rotations, as the array is fixed in Nasmyth coordinates and the wobbler direction is fixed with respect to azimuth during a scan. Bolometer proposals participating in the pool have their observations (maps and ONOFFs) pre-reduced by a data quality monitor which runs scripts in the newly developed MOPSIC. This package, complete with all necessary scripts, is also installed for off-line data analysis in Granada and Grenoble. It is also available for distribution from the IRAM Data Base for Pooled Observations or directly from R. Zylka (zylka@iram.fr). The older software packages (NIC [7] and MOPSI[8]) are still available, but will not be updated.

Bolometer proposals will be pooled together like in previous semesters along with suitable heterodyne proposals as long as the respective PIs agree. The web-based time estimator handles well the usual bolometer observing modes, and its use is again strongly recommended. The time estimator uses rather precise estimates of the various overheads which will be applied to all bolometer proposals. If exceptionally low noise levels are requested which may be reachable only in a perfectly stable (quasi-winter) atmosphere, the proposers must clearly say so in their time estimate paragraph. Such proposals will however be particularly scrutinized. On the other extreme, if only strong sources are observed and moderate weather conditions are sufficient, the proposal may be used as a backup in the observing pool. The proposal should point out this circumstance, as it affects positively the chance that the proposal is accepted and observed.