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Radio Net : Advanced Radio Astronomy in Europe

Radio Net : Advanced Radio Astronomy in Europe. An I3 funded by the EU through FP6 Alastair G Gunn University of Manchester Jodrell Bank Observatory OPTICON BOARD MEETING – 11 th /12 th October 2004, Grenoble. Radio Net Partners & Mission.

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Radio Net : Advanced Radio Astronomy in Europe

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  1. RadioNet: Advanced Radio Astronomy in Europe An I3 funded by the EU through FP6 Alastair G Gunn University of Manchester Jodrell Bank Observatory OPTICON BOARD MEETING – 11th/12th October 2004, Grenoble

  2. RadioNet Partners & Mission • RadioNethas 20 partners: all of the major radio astronomy facilities and the laboratories involved in technology development • Coordinated by the University of Manchester, UK • Remit is to support the European radio astronomy community and to enhance the European radio astronomy facilities • RadioNetwas awarded €12.4M

  3. The Telescopes & Trans-National Access 1 • Europe has some of the largest and most sophisticated radio telescopes on Earth. These facilities are working together more closely than ever under the RadioNet umbrella.

  4. The Telescopes & Trans-National Access 2 • Telescopes: • European VLBI Network (EVN) is the most sensitive VLBI array on Earth. Has three telescopes in 70-100 m class and more are being built – 64-m in Sardinia, IT (2006), 40-m at Yebes, ES (2004); • IRAM: runs Plateau de Bure (FR) (progenitor of ALMA) and Pico Veleta (ES: largest mm dish in world); • JCMT in Hawaii, largest sub-mm capable dish in the world; • MERLIN: UK’s 7-telescope array, has the same resolution in the radio as the HST; being upgraded using fibre optic cables. • MPIfR – Effelsberg (DE) 100-m; 2nd largest steerable dish in the world; • OSO-20m; highly capable mm dish in Sweden; • WSRT – recently upgraded, 14 –element interferometer in NL

  5. M82: MERLIN Science with RadioNet Facilities: MERLIN & EVN • MERLIN is the UK’s radio imaging camera: provides radio images with the same level of detail as the Hubble Space Telescope does in the optical • MERLIN image of nearby galaxy M82 shows ~50 bright spots  supernovae • The European VLBI Network (EVN) provides a zoom capability for more detailed studies of these supernovae

  6. HI Optical Science with RadioNet Facilities: WSRT • Westerbork Synthesis Radio Telescope (WSRT) in the Netherlands is the premier instrument for studies of HI, the most abundant material in the Universe. • Optical image of M31 compared with WSRT image of HI in the same galaxy.

  7. Science with RadioNet Facilities: JCMT • James Clerk Maxwell Telescope (JCMT) in Hawaii, with SCUBA, has demonstrated the power of sub-mm science. Has been a crucial pathfinder for the Atacama Large Millimetre Array (ALMA). • Cosmology. Observe dusty, star-forming galaxies in early Universe. SCUBA has found > 100 sub-mm galaxies. • Star-formation: SCUBA probes through the obscuring dust/gas to reveal the details underneath • Planets: SCUBA shows us a dusty debris disk around Epsilon Eridani

  8. SKA ALMA RadioNet Joint Research Activities (JRAs) • RadioNet has three JRAS, developing the future technology and software for radio astronomy: • ALBUS: Advanced Long-Baseline User Software developing advanced software for interferometers • AMSTAR: Advanced mm and sub-mm Technology for Astronomical Research developing new mm-wave devices • PHAROS: Phased Arrays for Reflector Observing Systems developing focal plane phased-arrays • These developments will be crucial for the construction of ALMA and the SKA.

  9. RadioNet Networking Activities (NAs) • RadioNet has six NAs, linking the scientists, engineers and the next generation of researchers: - Synergy integrating facility access across Europe - Science Workshops and Training Group dissemination of science and the training of young researchers - European Radio Astronomy Engineering Forum forum for RadioNet engineers - Software & Users Forum forum for software developers and users - ALMA Forum maximise European potential from ALMA - Astronomy across Europe linking the community - Radio Frequency Management solutions to radio frequency interference

  10. RadioNet Highlights • RadioNet Mid-Year Report available on website www.radionet-eu.org • Good progress has been made in all areas in the 1st year of RadioNet • Five RadioNet-funded science meetings have been held in 2004 - Dense Molecular Gas around Protostars and Galactic Nuclei - Exploring the Cosmic Frontier: Astrophysical Instruments for the 21st Century - Multiwavelength Approaches to AGNs - 7th EVN Symposium - Young European Radio Astronomers Conference (YERAC) • 2ndRadioNet Board Meeting to be held at JBO on 17th November 2004

  11. Strategic Issues • RadioNet is not enough! the future of radio astronomy in Europe seems to require a legal organisation, or ‘foundation’, that is small and efficient but draws on the skills of other institutes • Coordinated Outreach Programmes RadioNet would like to collaborate more closely with OPTICON and ILIAS in outreach programmes • I3 Forum (12th November 2004, Brussels) RadioNet would like to ask OPTICON whether they consider that, under FP7, there are benefits to be had from a joint, spectrum-wide astronomy proposal

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