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Ongoing cycle
Next cycle
The ALMA Early Science Cycle 2 capabilities include:
Thirty-four 12-m antennas in the 12-m Array, nine 7-m antennas in the 7-m Array, and two 12-m antennas in the TP Array Receiver bands 3, 4, 6, 7, 8 & 9 (wavelengths of about 3.1, 2.1, 1.3, 0.87, 0.74 and 0.44 mm) Both single field interferometry and mosaics Spectral-line observations with all Arrays (except Band 9 with the TP Array) and continuum observations with the 12-m Array and the 7-m Array Polarization (on-axis, continuum, selected frequencies in Band 3, 6 and 7, no ACA, no mosaics, no circular polarization) Mixed correlator modes (both high and low frequency resolution in the same observation) Baselines up to 1 km for Bands 8 & 9 Baselines up to 1.5 km for Bands 3, 4, 6, & 7
Use of the ACA for short baseline interferometry and single-dish observations will only be offered to complement observations with the 12-m Array, and not as a stand-alone capability.
It is anticipated that about 2000 hours of 12-m Array time and ACA time will be available for Cycle 2 projects and highest priority projects transferred from Cycle 1. Complete details are available in the Cycle 2 Proposer's Guide.
Cycle 2 operations will be conducted on a best efforts basis, similar to Cycle 1 and Cycle 0 observations, and in parallel with commissioning and verification of the whole ALMA system.
Successful proposers will share risk with ALMA. Observatory staff will perform data quality assurance and will provide reduced data products via the ALMA Regional Centers (ARCs). But project completion cannot be guaranteed, and the quality of the data and data reduction may not meet the standards expected when ALMA is in full scientific operations.
Useful dates:
24 October 2013 Release of Cycle 2 Call for Proposals and related tools and documents 24 October 2013 Science Archive opens for proposal submission 5 December 2013 Proposal submission deadline, 15:00 UT April 2014 Proposal Review Process outcome notification June 2014 Start of ALMA Cycle 2 science observations October 2015 End of ALMA Cycle 2 science observations