O National Radio Astronomy ProgramPlan Observatory FiscalYear-2005 NATIONAL RADIO ASTRONOMY OBSERVATORY Preliminary Program Plan FY2005 October 13, 2004 The National Radio Astronomy Observatory is a facility of the National Science Foundation operated by Associated Universities Inc. Table of Contents Mission Statement............................................................................................................................1 1. Introduction.................................................................................................................................3 2. Science Programs in FY2005......................................................................................................7 Overview..............................................................................................................................7 Cosmology and the Early Universe ....................................................................................8 Radio Galaxies, Quasars, Active Galactic Nuclei, and Gamma Ray Bursts .....................11 Nearby Galaxies and the Galactic Center ..........................................................................16 Molecular Clouds, Star Formation, and Galactic Structure...............................................20 Pulsars and Other Radio Stars............................................................................................24 Solar System; Geophysics..................................................................................................26 3. ALMA Construction .................................................................................................................29 Project Overview ...............................................................................................................29 Science Objectives.............................................................................................................30 Technical Objectives..........................................................................................................31 Project Status .....................................................................................................................33 Program FY2005................................................................................................................40 4. ALMA Operations ....................................................................................................................45 Overview............................................................................................................................45 North American ALMA Science Center............................................................................45 5. Expanded Very Large Array.....................................................................................................51 Overview............................................................................................................................51 Phase I................................................................................................................................52 Planned Activities for FY2005 ..........................................................................................55 Phase II...............................................................................................................................58 6. NRAO Facilities........................................................................................................................59 Green Bank Telescope .......................................................................................................59 Very Large Array...............................................................................................................77 Very Long Baseline Array.................................................................................................88 7. Central Development Laboratory .............................................................................................99 Cooled HFET Development ..............................................................................................99 MMIC Development........................................................................................................101 Millimeter-Wave Receiver Development........................................................................103 Electromagnetics..............................................................................................................104 Budget ..............................................................................................................................105 Table of Contents 8. NRAO Science & Academic Affairs ......................................................................................107 Introduction......................................................................................................................107 The Research Staff of the NRAO ....................................................................................107 Library and Archives .......................................................................................................108 Educational Programs ......................................................................................................110 9. Observatory Computing..........................................................................................................113 Overview..........................................................................................................................113 Software Development.....................................................................................................113 Project-Based Software Development .............................................................................113 Data Storage and Retrieval ..............................................................................................116 Central Computing Services ............................................................................................119 10. Education and Public Outreach.............................................................................................125 Overview .........................................................................................................................125 New Initiatives.................................................................................................................125 ALMA .............................................................................................................................127 NRAO Website ................................................................................................................128 NRAO Brochures.............................................................................................................128 Astronomical Community................................................................................................129 Media Relations ...............................................................................................................132 Visitors Center .................................................................................................................133 Education .........................................................................................................................134 11. Observatory Management.....................................................................................................137 Overview..........................................................................................................................137 Program Office.................................................................................................................139 Business Services.............................................................................................................147 Environment, Safety, and Security ..................................................................................148 Human Resources ............................................................................................................150 12. Initiatives and Other Activities .............................................................................................155 New Initiatives.................................................................................................................155 Charlottesville Facilities ..................................................................................................159 Spectrum Management ....................................................................................................160 13. Impact of Alternate Funding Levels .....................................................................................163 Introduction......................................................................................................................163 The Need for the Mission Requirement Level.................................................................163 The Adequacy of the Mission Requirement Level ..........................................................164 The Impact of Funding at the President’s Request Level................................................165 14. FY2005 Preliminary Financial Plan......................................................................................169 Table of Contents Appendix A - Scientific Staff Research Activities ......................................................................177 Appendix B - Research Staff .......................................................................................................203