18 June 2019

Taeduk Radio Astronomy Observatory Call for Proposals

Taeduk Radio Astronomy Observatory (TRAO)

Taeduk Radio Astronomy Observatory (TRAO) is calling for new proposals using the 14m radio telescope from October 2019 to May 2020. The submission deadline for proposals is at the end of August 2019 (send proposals to [email protected]). Submitted proposals will be evaluated and results will be shared by the end of September. There are generally plenty of telescope time slots available between LST 10 and 15 hours, thus, proposals requesting these time slots are more encouraged. We have a remote observation mode available, however, only experienced observers can use it. If you are a first time user of the TRAO system, we encourage you to find experienced users in Korea Astronomy and Space Science Institute (KASI) as collaborators.

The cover page for proposal is provided on the TRAO home page. Please use either a Word or PDF form — up to four pages (LP and GP) or six pages (KSP) with font size 10, including science justification, technical justification, and figures and tables.

  1. Key Science Programs (KSPs): KSP is a multi-year observing program, which could finalize a series of wonderful scientific results, and demonstrating characteristics and advantage of TRAO system. Telescope allocation time would be 400 hours per year for next three years.
  2. General Programs (GPs): GP is a short program, which needs a small amount of telescope time up to 100 hours within a single observing season (October 2019 ~ May 2020), with which fast scientific results could be expected in relatively short period of time
  3. Large Programs (LPs): LP is a program, which needs a substantial amount of telescope time up to 300 hours within a single observing season (October 2019 ~ May 2020), with which invaluable scientific results could be expected within a year or two.

TRAOs multi-beam receiver system (SEQUOIA-TRAO) is a cryogenic focal plane array equipped with 16 high performing InP MMIC amplifiers. This receiver system has been operating quite smoothly for the last three years. The receiver temperature is ranging from 60~80 K for 86 to 110 GHz, and 80~110 K for 115 GHz, and system temperature is ranging from about 200 K for 86 to 110 GHz, and 400 K for 115 GHz. Two molecular lines could be simultaneously observed as it has two 2nd LO within 15 GHz band range. Backend system is a high performing correlator, providing a bandwidth of 60 MHz with a 15 kHz resolution (0.045 km/s at 100GHz). OTF (On-The-Fly) mapping mode is the main observing mode, and a simple position switching mode is also available. Test observation shows that it takes 27 min for mapping 6x6 region, and 37 min for 10x10. You may decide a regrid size and convolution parameter after completion of your observation. Pointing accuracy of the telescope is about 5 arcsec. The backend system (FFT spectrometer) provides the 4096x2 channels with a fine velocity resolution of better than 0.05 km/s (15 kHz) per channel. Its effective spectra bandwidth is 60 MHz. Please refer the TRAO homepage home for system information. Two bedrooms and kitchen are available for outside observers. TRAO is a part of Korea Astronomy and Space Science Institute.

Hyunwoo Kang, PhD, TRAO Director & Youngung Lee, PhD, TRAO Principal Scientist