From naw@ing.iac.es Mon Oct 18 13:19:32 1999 Date: Tue, 23 Mar 1999 20:47:25 +0000 (GMT) From: Nicholas A Walton To: "Instrumentation Working Group -- Gavin B. Dalton" , k.h.kuijken@astro.rug.nl, Nicholas A Walton , Richard McMahon at IoA , sam@ll.iac.es, sfg1@starlink.ukc.ac.uk, Vik Dhillon at Sheffield Cc: ajl@roe.ac.uk, r.myers@durham.ac.uk, sjst@ing.iac.es, rgmr@ing.iac.es, Nicholas A Walton Subject: iwg april 6 meeting - agenda Dear All, below I attach the agenda for the 1st meeting of the re-structured ING IWG. It will be held at Halifax Hall of Residence, the University of Sheffield (see http://www.shef.ac.uk/travel/maps/central_small.html for maps and http://www.shef.ac.uk/travel/ for directions) starting 11am and wrapping up at about 5pm. I attach below the agenda. Rene will send on some associated briefing papers in the coming days. I plan to present a brief overview of the current ING development projects to give you a picture of where we are at today. Rene will set the scene with the funding situation. I expect that this first meeting will be a scene setting one - and that views on the ING development programme will come after this and the following workshop for the next IWG meeting in the autumn. Hope to see you all in Sheffield on the 6th April. All the best, Nic Walton p.s. please retain your travel receipts when claiming expenses. p.p.s I'll be away from tomorrow in the USA - if you have any queries please contact Rene Rutten (rgmr@ing.iac.es) ----------------- agenda --------------------------- IWG - April 6 1999: (11.00-17.00) --------------------------------- Location: Halifax Hall of Residence Seminar Room University of Sheffield Members: Richard McMahon Cosmology - Chair rgm@ast.cam.ac.uk Koen Kuijken Galaxies - NL k.h.kuijken@astro.rug.nl Simon Green Solar sfg1@ukc.ac.uk Vik Dhillon Stellar vik.dhillon@sheffield.ac.uk Santiago Arribas Galaxies - E sam@ll.iac.es Gavin Dalton Galaxies gbd@astro.ox.ac.uk Nic Walton ING - Secretary naw@ing.iac.es In Attendance: Rene Rutten ING - Director rgmr@ing.iac.es Proposed Agenda: 1. Introduction: welcome and statement of purpose of the re-formed IWG 2. Businees arising from the last meeting - the INT/UKIRT WF outcome 3. Summary of instrumenatation and related developments currently underway at the ING (internal projects) 3.1 INGRID 3.2 NAOMI 3.3 AF2 small fibres 3.4 CCD acquisitions (especially red sensitive CCDs) 3.5 UltraDAS - Data Acquisition System 3.6 Computing infrastructure 4. Summary of instrumenatation and related developments currently underway at the ING (external projects) 4.1 TEIFU 4.2 SCAM - STJ's 4.3 SAURON 5. Summary of Scientific programmes in progress 5.1 Wide Field Survey 6. Possible Instrumentational developments 6.1 AF2/WYFFOS enhancements - long camera 4k x 4k detector - multiple IFU's at Prime (1200 fibres to WYFFOS) - Z-H spectroscopy with IR fibres plus INGRID 6.2 Enhanced optical camera (4k x 4k with FP mode) for NAOMI 6.3 Fibre feed for SCAM at GHRIL 6.4 near IR wide field JHK MOS at cooled WHT cassegrain 6.5 9.1-m La Palma Spectroscopic Telescope (LAST) - a HET for La Palma 7. The ING Instrumentation conference, Sheffield 7-9 April 1999 8. NL instrumentation 9. GTC involvement - possible instrumentation development 10. The Instrumentation direction - recommendations 11. AOB ----------------------------------------------------------------- Appendix A: Agenda of Last Meeting: RGO Cambridge, April 30 1998 1. Future Roles of UKIRT and the INT (NAW, VSD, RGM) - background papers and notes included in VSD mailing - wide-field options available to INT PF (+ cost) - should alternatives be considered? e.g. join collaboration for dedicated survey telescope and maintain INT/UKIRT in present form 2. ING Enhancements (draft notes from RR circulated) - current status - future developments, priorities - WHT laser beacon preparatory work (RMM) 3. Rationalising instrumentation suites - response to GBFC (draft circulated) - advice from Visiting Committee? 4. Dutch instrumentation plans (Dutch rep?) 5. NAOMI report (RMM) - IR spectrograph option 6. New IWG chairman New technical secretary will be Nic Walton 7. Next meeting 8. AOB Phil Charles (Chairman) Vik Dhillon (Technical Secretary) ----------------------------------------------------------------- Appendix B: Minutes of Last Meeting: RGO Cambridge, April 30 1998 IN CONFIDENCE JSC(98)07 18 May 1998 PPARC-NWO JOINT STEERING COMMITTEE INSTRUMENTATION WORKING GROUP Report of the Meeting held on 30 April 1998 at the RGO, Cambridge a note by the Chairman 1. The main items under discussion for this meeting, chaired by Professor Charles, were the INT, with respect to the UK debate on the future roles of the INT and UKIRT, and the enhancements programme for 1998/99. The meeting was attended by Mike Redfern (Galway), Arturo Manchado (IAC), Andy Longmore (ATC), Richard McMahon (IoA) and various technical experts from the RGO. Although a representative from the Netherlands (Konrad Kuijken) had been contacted he was unable to attend the meeting. It was noted that Nic Walton would take over from Vic Dhillon as technical secretary following this meeting. Future Role of the INT 2. The IWG had been asked for comment on the future role of the INT as input to the PPARC meeting being held on 5 May to discuss the provision of optical/IR survey capability in the Northern Hemisphere through the INT and UKIRT. The IWG was keen to ensure that all options for the provision of such a capability were investigated. Dr Vincent assured the meeting that this would be the case and that the PPARC meeting was being held to consider the scientific requirements for such a capability and the technical constraints and options provided by the currently available facilities and instrumentation. The meeting would provide advice to the GBFC, which is to meet in June, as part of a wider consideration of strategic options and a report would be given to the Joint Steering Committee. 3. Dr Walton said that with the commissioning of the INT WFC, using EEV chips, its short term role would be to undertake wide field survey programmes for a considerable proportion of the available observing time. The proposals received as a result of the announcement of opportunity were currently being assessed (20 applications had been received). In preparation for this, considerable Observatory effort had been put into ensuring that the systems for data taking, processing, storage and dissemination were efficient. Upgrades to the data acquisition system, to use SDSU controllers, to enable pipeline processing and the purchase of additional filters were planned for the coming year. 4. In order to extend the wavelength capabilities of the INT it was proposed to upgrade the INT WFC in both the Optical and NIR. This would comprise a 12k*12k array over a 1.5 degree field consisting of 18, 4k *2k EEV chips to provide optical coverage (at an estimated cost of 800k pounds plus 12 dsy), complemented by a 4k*4k array over a 30 arcminute field of view to give IR coverage at J and H bands (at an estimated cost of 750k pounds plus 10 dsy). 5. It was not considered to be appropriate or desirable to extend the INT coverage into the K band. Although K band coverage was possible on the WHT, utilising the Cassegrain focus, this would require a new camera. To add a capability to K band would also add considerably to the technical complexity of the instrument design. The scientific need for a capability at K band was the subject of considerable debate. It was suggested that K band need not be the driver for survey instrument design. 6. However there was support for decreasing the historical split between optical and near-IR programmes and this could be assisted by providing a broader range capability on one facility (INT), which is already close to being optimised for U-H band work. 7. The Group supported the proposal for an upgraded INT WFC camera as proposed and recommended that this become a priority for the ING Development programme. Given that a J,H option could be developed quickly and hence be useful on a timescale that matched the Gemini N plans, it noted Dr Manchado's offer that the IAC might be able to assist with technical support in some areas of design, although no capital contribution would be possible. Instrumentation Suite 8. The Group revisited the issue of the size of instrumentation suites supported at the ING and the frequency of change. It agreed that the INT should support wide field surveys for a significant proportion of the available time but that IDS/FOS/MUSICOS should continue to be supported on the Cassegrain focus. For the WHT it was considered appropriate that instruments were supported at each of its foci, to make best use of the observing conditions and to fulfil the WHT's role as a general purpose telescope. The Group noted that most of the cost relating to instrumentation was in their procurement and commissioning but agreed that the cost of support should be controlled. It was clear that instruments such as the LDSS were capable of soliciting high quality research proposals and that there was good support within the international community for retention. The Group agreed that more consideration needed to be given before such instruments were decommissioned. 9. For the future, the Group urged the continuation of the programme of upgrades to existing instruments on the WHT, noting that for the AAT both Taurus and the LDSS were being converted to second generation instruments. It was suggested that TAURUS and the LDSS might also be merged into a single instrument at ING. The Group felt that this would be a practical and beneficial development which would lead to operational savings and provide direct support to GMOS programmes on Gemini. The Group asked that a design study be instigated. Overall, the Group recommended that the WHT retain its versatility by providing a range of state-of-the-art multi-purpose instrumentation. 10. The Group welcomed the recent success of the NL Universities bid for instrumentation resources and hoped that this might lead to some additional investment in the ING. NAOMI 11. Dr Longmore reported that good progress was being made with NAOMI and that Electra-1 was still on schedule for commissioning on the WHT this summer. The transfer of some work packages from the RGO to the ATC had been agreed and it was hoped that this would not cause significant delays in the programme. However, there were considerable worries over the schedule for software development which relied heavily on the retention of key personnel. 12. Dr Thompson reported that preliminary designs for a spectrometer to work with NAOMI had been drawn up but it would be some time before a formal proposal was submitted to the Director ING. Dr Vincent confirmed that some resources were provisionally available within the PPARC Business Plan for a spectrometer but not in 1998/99. LIRIS 13. Dr Manchado reported that design work for LIRIS was progressing well and that some work had been subcontracted to the UKATC. The ING was also assisting with respect to CCD controllers/electronics and software architecture. Commissioning was expected in 2 years time. It was proposed that this instrument eventually become common user but it was not known if the IAC had made any formal approaches to the JSC or Director ING at present. Dr Manchado indicated that the IAC would be seeking some guaranteed observing time in exchange for common user status. The Group noted that it had not proven realistic to adapt the LIRIS design to operate at Nasmyth with NAOMI. As a short term alternative, it was suggested that NOTCAM might serve this purpose in spectrographic mode. However, it was not known whether the NOT would be interested in sharing the camera. PPARC Grant Applications: CIRPASS 14. The Group noted a PPARC grant application from the IoA Cambridge to build a fibre fed multi object spectrograph with OH suppression. If built, this private instrument would be commissioned on a number of telescopes, including possibly the WHT. The Group agreed to consider the detail of the proposal in more depth before giving comments to PPARC's grants committee. R&D for Laser Guide Stars 15. The Group also noted an application from Imperial College to undertake a number of modelling studies relating to the fundamental design of laser guide star systems - notably the cone effect, tilt effect and expansion of field of view. The Group was generally supportive of this work noting that it was in conjunction with a much larger EU/TMR programme and might allow greater benefit from this EU programme to be available to the ING. Enhancements Programme 1998/99 16. The Group considered the programme of enhancements proposed by the Director ING. It noted that the need to implement a major network upgrade dominated the Enhancements programme and severely reduced the ability to undertake any other significant projects in this year. It was also clear that a similar sum would be required in the next financial year to complete the upgrade. The Group asked for more detail on how the estimates of the cost of the network upgrade were derived. 17. Whilst the Group supported the request it was disheartened by its effect on the Enhancements programme which was symptomatic of the extremely limited resources now available for operations and enhancements as a result of the continuing financial squeeze. The network upgrade would normally have been a call on maintenance or operations costs. 18. The Group recommended that the proposed Enhancements programme be supported but asked that the JSC highlight the extremely negative effect on instrument enhancements that using the Enhancements as a balancing line was having. The Group was most concerned that a continuation of the current position would lead to a steady decline in the quality and reliability of the facilities. The IWG also noted the impact on operations manpower of the loss of RGO support for INGRid, INTEGRAL, WYFFOS and AUTOFIB, and asked the Director to fully itemise these effects so that he could bid to Swindon Office against the funds for dismantling the RGO. Proposal for LGS preparatory studies 19. Dr Myers presented the outline of a proposal to undertake studies in preparation for the addition of a laser guide star capability to the WHT. The need for such studies, in advance of any commitment to a LGS programme, had been highlighted at the last UK NAOMI review. The studies would include some characterisation of the sodium layer on La Palma, site and infrastructure issues. The total cost of the proposal was around 250k pounds over two years. Dr Redfern said that there were similar studies being undertaken through the EU/TMR campaign using Calar Alto and hoped that there could be some collaboration between the groups. The Group noted the proposal and offered its support. Next meeting 20. It was suggested that the next meeting might be held on La Palma, just prior to the Joint Steering Committee. This would save on the cost of travel for the ING technical staff and the JSC member. The date of the meeting was left until the JSC dates were agreed. 21. Thanks were offered to Mick Johnson for his long and much appreciated service to the facility. The Group wished him well for the future. This would also be Professor Charles' last meeting as Chairman and the Group offered him its thanks. Summary of IWG recommendations to JSC: To support an upgraded INT WFC as proposed, and that this become a priority for the ING Development programme. That the WHT retain its versatility through multi-purpose state-of-the-art instrumentation available at each of its foci, and that a design study be instigated to consider a merged TAURUS-LDSS instrument, as was also being investigated at AAO. That the proposed Enhancements programme be supported, but the JSC note the negative impact of using the Enhancements as a balancing line. That the next IWG meeting be held on La Palma, just prior to the JSC. ======================================================================== Dr N. A. Walton (ING Instrumentation Scientist) Tel: +34 922 405637 (mountain) Isaac Newton Group Tel: +34 922 425440 (sea level office) Apartado 321 FAX: +34 922 405646 (mountain - INT) 38700 Santa Cruz de La Palma FAX: +34 922 425401 (sea level office) The Canary Islands, SPAIN WWW: http://www.ing.iac.es/~naw email: naw@ing.iac.es ========================================================================