Designing an experiment
Laing
with Heywood, Kloeckner, Etoka, Perley
- Writing a good science case
- Clear objectives (test some idea; identify an object in a new band; ...)
- Basics
- Frequency - particular spectral line(s); considerations affecting choice of continuum band (spectrum; variation of polarization with frequency).
- Spatial resolution and maximum scale of structure. Wide-field issues (primary beam; need for mosaic; confusing sources)
- Spectral configuration (one or more lines; resolution; continuum; ...)
- Working out the surface brightness
- Where can relevant archive data be found?
- Choice of instrument
- Which instrument(s)/configuration(s) are needed?
- Single-dish data needed?
- How much time?
- Adequate coverage and signal to noise ratio?
- Measurement accuracy?
- Other issues for the technical justification
- Calibration strategy
- is self-calibration possible;
- how important is good astrometry?
- Timing constraints and conditions?
- Observations simultaneous on different instruments?
- Good observing conditions needed?
- Proposal tools and where to find them