November 4, 2002 from: C. Carilli (NRAO) to: ISAC re: Final ISAC White paper report and Minutes from ISAC telecon Thursday October 31 cc: Tarter The ISAC white paper report as submitted to the ISSC can be found at: http://www.aoc.nrao.edu/~ccarilli/SKA.shtml Following are the minutes from the October 31 telecon. Chris Carilli Socorro NM USA ---------------------------------------------- Attending: Carilli, Owen, Wilner, Gaenslar, Dettmar, Feretti, Jones, Dickey, vd Hulst, Falcke, Kramer, Dougherty, Lazio Agenda: 1. Discuss ISAC WP report (40 min). 2. Request from DSN for priority science at 8, 32GHz with 0.5 GHz BW (10 min). 3. Request from ISSC for initial list of level 0 science by early 2003 (10 min). --- 1. The meeting opened with a general description of the recent events concerning the ISAC WP review. Two types of comments have been received: detailed comments on the review and the compliance matrix, and general comments concerning the need for more specific instructions to the design proposers. The former are straight-forward to deal with, but the latter would require significantly more time. Open discussion on the ISAC report followed. Concern was expressed about the accuracy of the current compliance matrix. Many of the 'No' entries may be too harsh, ie. some clarification and minor modifications could possibly turn these into 'Maybe'. Until that time, there was general consensus that the Matrix should not be included explicitly in the report. The matrix resort also was discussed. Reservations were expressed about calling attention to very specific projects (eg. ALMA and LOFAR). It was felt that we should be more general about low and high frequency science, and use these specific projects only as examples. Similar clarification was needed concerning centimeter science and the EVLA and eMerlin. Also, some science areas that are currently listed in the 'super-lofar' area are actually better served at higher frequencies (eg. pulsars, SETI). Again, the consensus was to remove the resorted matrix from the report. The question of multiple fields of view vs. high frequencies was discussed. It was decided to soften the (currently strong) statement concerning this issue, recognizing that multiple fields of view has some very interesting potential. It was pointed out that, independent of multiple fields of view, good performance at both low and high frequencies may be difficult to achieve with a single design. There was general consensus that the ISAC should recommend that the proposers consider hybrid designs that include multiple fields of view at low frequency without sacrificing the high frequencies. Concern was expressed about the lack of consideration of on-line signal processing in many of the proposed designs. Similar concern was expressed about data post-processing. AI: A general review of the Matrix will be undertaken, coordinated by the WG chairs. This may include a finer scale for the evaluation (1 to 5? 1 to 10?), and should definitely include more explicit comments directed to the design proposers, in particular if an entry is found to be 'No'. AI: Carilli/Rawlings will revised the final report as per the comments above. --- 2. The DSN has proposed to upgrade to a large N array. Preston at JPL has requested guidance from the ISAC for potential science with the array. He wants just a few high profile science projects. The current specifications are: (i) 3 'stations' over the globe, with significant freedom in terms of individual station design, (ii) 8 and 32 GHz observing frequencies (the high frequency may be adjustable from 31 to 38 GHz), (iii) 0.5 GHz bandwidth, (iv) possible spectral line. The request was for general science programs, not very detailed proposals. AI: Dickey/Carilli/Preston will consider science with the DSN. --- 3. The request from the ISSC and project director for near-term level-0 science goals was discussed. While some reservations were expressed about proceeding to quickly, the ISAC felt that a rough first pass at determining these programs could be made in the coming 2 to 3 months. AI: Carilli/Rawlings will coordinate process for first-pass at determining level-0 science goals via telecon, email. ---