First Announcement

7 October 2008

Imaging and Calibration Algorithms for EVLA, e-MERLIN and ALMA

December 1 - 3 2008
E-Science Research Centre, University of Oxford


Over the next few years, there will be enormous improvements in the sensitivity, resolution and frequency coverage of aperture-synthesis arrays working at cm, mm and sub-mm wavelengths. In order to make best use of the new and upgraded arrays - ALMA, EVLA, e-MERLIN and e-VLBI - advanced imaging and calibration algorithms are required. This workshop will bring together those working on algorithm requirements, design and implementation, with the following aims:

• to describe what is available and compare different approaches;
• to identify what is missing;
• to promote collaboration between different groups and
• to work out how new algorithms can be implemented in a framework which allows astronomers (including newcomers to interferometry) to make most effective use of the new instruments.

Key topics include (but are not restricted to):

• accurate imaging over wide fields with large fractional bandwidths;
• correction of pointing errors, atmospheric attenuation, variations of the primary beam with time, closure errors, etc.;
• correction of tropospheric and ionospheric phase errors, including anisoplanatic effects;
• imaging with heterogeneous arrays and combination of single-dish and interferometric data;
• deconvolution methods for single fields and mosaics;
• polarization imaging over wide fields.

We will include a session for work in small groups, to allow developers to exchange or explain code and techniques in detail.

Although the workshop will be focused on the immediate needs of current cm and mm-wave arrays, we encourage input from those working on low-frequency projects and SKA development.

The workshop will take place at the Oxford University E-Science Research Centre between Dec 1 and 3 2008. We plan to reserve accommodation for workshop participants at one of the Oxford Colleges. The meeting is supported by Radionet and Oxford Astrophysics. There will be no registration fee and lunches and refreshments during the meeting will be provided. Limited support for travel and
accommodation will be available from Radionet, primarily (but not exclusively) for those working at institutes within the EU.

For those not able to attend the meeting in person, we plan to provide video-conferencing facilities.

Further information will appear shortly at:

http://astrowiki.physics.ox.ac.uk/cgi-bin/twiki/view/Algorithms2008/WebHome

If you are interesting in attending the meeting, please send an e-mail to algorithms2008@astro.ox.ac.uk, including a brief summary of your current interests in algorithm requirements, design or implementation. If you would like to give a presentation, please send us a title. Attendance will be limited to around 30, so a quick reply would help us to plan the meeting effectively. Feel free to circulate this message to others you think might be interested, particularly students and other young researchers.

Radionet support is limited, so we hope that most participants will be funded by their home institutes. If you think you will need additional support in order to come, please send us an estimate.

Scientific Organizing Committee

Robert Laing (ESO)
Anita Richards (Jodrell Bank Centre for Astrophysics)
Frazer Owen (NRAO)
Ian Heywood (University of Oxford)

Local Organizing Committee

Ian Heywood (Astrophysics, University of Oxford)
Anita Richards (Jodrell Bank Centre for Astrophysics)
Vanessa Ferraro-Wood (Astrophysics, University of Oxford)
Kay Sutton (Oxford E-Science Research Centre)

-- IanHeywood - 07 Oct 2008