gbtnews #16 4 September 2003 Limited call for GBT Proposals - Trimester 04A Deadline: 1 October 2003, 5:00 P.M., EDT The next deadline for observing proposals for the GBT will be 1 October 2003. We have completed commissioning of the GBT through 26 GHz (K-band) and that receiver is now available routinely. The 22-26 GHz amplifier set was upgraded over the summer and now has improved noise temperatures. First engineering tests of the 40-50 GHz (Q-band) system last spring were successful and full astronomical commissioning is planned for this autumn. This receiver should be available for general use from late autumn on. We are also constructing a 26-40 GHz (Ka-band) receiver with scheduled completion in March 2004. In conjunction, Caltech is constructing a fast-sampling continuum backend for use with this receiver. This project is funded by NRAO's University-built Instrumentation program. We will accept proposals for continuum observations with the Ka-band system at this deadline, and for all modes including spectroscopy at subsequent deadlines. Observing operations continue to become more routine and will exceed 50% of available time throughout the fall. The remaining telescope time this fall will be used for commissioning the Q-band system, tests on the Precision Telescope Control System for high frequency operation, program checkouts, and required maintenance. As described in previous calls, we have a substantial number of proposals in the queue from previous calls. We will accept about 400 hours of new observing time at the upcoming 1 October 2003 deadline and again at the following deadline on 2 February 2004. This level will allow us to work down the existing queue of proposals by next summer, while still allowing high priority projects to enter the queue. Thereafter, we should approach a steady-state in which the proposals accepted at each deadline will equal the time available in the subsequent trimester. Although this does represent a restriction in available time in the short-term, it will allow priority projects to be accepted, including dissertation programs, rapid response projects, etc. Per usual, proposals will be rank-ordered and selected until the available time is exhausted. Proposals will be accepted for all standard observing modes at frequencies through 50 GHz. Available observing modes include spectral line, continuum, pulsar, and VLBI/VLBA. Pulsar modes include those with the Spectral Processor, and the BCPM (Berkeley-Caltech Pulsar Machine) through agreement with its developers. The pulsar Spigot mode of the GBT Spectrometer should be available in limited modes for expert users through agreement with its developers. Receivers include 290-920 MHz (PF1), 910-1230 MHz (PF2), 1.15-1.73 GHz (L), 1.73-2.60 (S), 3.95-5.85 (C), 8.0-10.1 (X), 12.0-15.4 (Ku), 18.0-26.5 (K), 26.0-40.0 (Ka -- continuum mode only at this time), and 40-50 GHz (Q). Proposals requesting GBT participation in VLBA or global VLBI observations should be submitted to the VLBA only, not to the GBT. The Observatory continues to offer financial support for graduate and undergraduate students performing research with the GBT through the Student Support Program. Applications are made in conjunction with GBT observing proposals, and will be accepted at the 1 October 2003 deadline. Information about the program can be found at http://www.gb.nrao.edu/gbtprops/gbtstudentsupport.shtml All proposals must be submitted electronically using version 1.1 of the NRAO Proposal Submission Tool (PST), which is available from the downloads page. If you have downloaded v1.1 previously, you need to download a new version of the gbtDatan.xml file, which informs the PST of available resources, start and end dates, etc., for each semester. This is a simple text file, which needs to be copied to the appropriate source location for the PST to access. Proposal receipt will open on Friday, 5 September 2003 and will close at 5:00 P.M. EDT on Wednesday, 1 October 2003. Questions about the proposal submission process may be addressed to Carl Bignell (304-456-2165). Technical questions about GBT hardware, software, and observing modes may be addressed to Ron Maddalena (304-456-2207). Phil Jewell