UK ALMA Regional Centre Node 2020 - 2024

This proposal is for funding of the UK Node of the European ALMA Regional Centre, which will continue to provide the UK ALMA community with direct user support, training and specialized software for experiment design, scheduling, data analysis and astrophysical interpretation. The Atacama Large Millimetre Array (ALMA) is transformational, and is revolutionising astronomy in the millimetre and sub-millimetre band with angular resolution, sensitivity, imaging quality and spectral coverage orders of magnitude beyond what available only a few years ago. The range of scientific applications is very broad, stretching from comets to cosmology, but ALMA's key strength is the detailed imaging of the processes of star and planet formation in our own galaxy and in the Universe at large, directly addressing many of the key themes of STFC's astronomical vision.

ALMA operates at a very dry high (5000m) site in the Atacama Desert of northern Chile, close to the edge of the radio atmospheric window. The telescope has been very successful in automating much of the data processing for standard modes of operation, producing acceptable images approaching publishable quality for astronomers who are not experts in interferometry. However, for full exploitation of science extraction from advanced imaging many users require and appreciate additional support from skilled interferometry experts. In addition, ALMA operations can at times be challenging, especially non-standard modes such as for ultra-high angular resolution imaging with physically extended telescope configurations in the shortest wavelength bands.

The operating plan for ALMA devolves all user interaction and support to three regional centres (ARCs) in US, Japan and Europe. The European model is a distributed one, with a central coordinating Node based at ESO in Garching and all face-to-face user support and more advanced data analysis facilities and enhanced imaging provided by a network of individual Nodes funded at the national level. In addition to the ESO Node there a 7 regional Nodes across Europe with UK ALMA user support being provided by the UK Node housed at the University of Manchester.

The UK Node provides user support tailored to the requirements of individual UK ALMA users to assist in maximising their scientific return on ALMA programmes. It also provides support to all UK ALMA users for the complete set of elements for their ALMA science programmes from proposal preparation through quality assurance assessment of their data (especially for those programmes involving non-standard operational modes), to advanced imaging and maximisation of science extraction. The Node also provides regular workshops to both enhance science extraction through advanced data processing/imaging, and ensures the distribution of information regarding new ALMA developments and capabilities. The UK Node also provides IT hardware (computing power and data storage) to simultaneously support several UK-led ALMA projects (through both face-to-face and remote support); including the hosting of large ALMA programmes and programmes for international consortia. The UK Node is involved in the development of new and enhanced software tools to assist UK ALMA users in their project planning and execution - for both new programmes and archival access projects. UK Node personnel participate in ALMA development and EOC (Extension and Optimisation of Capabilities) commissioning programmes to utilise existing UK Node skills to deliver such programmes, and in addition provide enhanced support for UK ALMA users with regard to new ALMA developments.

The UK ALMA user community has benefitted from the expert support provided by the UK Node and has grown to be a major user of ALMA. In the last 3 years of ALMA operations (Cycles 4-6) successful UK ALMA users have been awarded 26% of all the approved European time.

The UK ARC Node undertakes a wide range of engagement activities from running professional workshops and training events focused on ALMA activities for the UK astronomical community to contributing to public outreach events. As well as producing a regular email newsletter, we produce a range of professional outreach materials which we distribute at professional meetings such as the annual National Astronomy Meeting where we have a large stand with personnel to talk to visitors throughout the meeting. UK Node staff also present recent ALMA results at astronomical conferences. UK-related press-releases are coordinated with both the ESO ARC Node and the University of Manchester to maximise the visibility and astronomical success of UK-led ALMA science.

The ARC Node staff have a diverse range of public engagement activities. These include talks to a wide range of audiences from amateur astronomers to schools groups. In addition, we provide stands and take part in science fairs and exhibitions including in a shopping mall and at the BlueDot music festival at the Jodrell Bank Observatory. We have also developed laboratory scripts for secondary school and university students which let students explore various astronomical concepts using ALMA data. The ARC node also contributes to STFC Newton and Global Challenges Research Fund projects through the delivery of training events and hosting visitors.