Benvenuti
Workshop rationale
Section II (Radio Astronomy) of the Scientific Directorate has
starting a process aimed at harmonizing and coordinating efforts and
resources in radio astronomy. The goal of this process is to realize
efficiencies that allow a higher level of productivity (better
instruments, better facilities, and more high impact science output)
within the discipline of radio astronomy at INAF. This process
includes a review of the existing and future radio astronomical
front-end receivers for the INAF radio telescope facilities: 64-m SRT;
32-m Noto; 32-m Medicina; and Northern Cross. A specific Working
Group (WG) to pursue this topic has been nominated by the Head of
Section II of the Scientific Directorate.
The WG composition aims to represent different professional backgrounds as well as wide geographic representation from the different groups and facilities involved in radio astronomy at INAF. The following people have been identified as members of the WG:
- Technologists: P. Bolli (OAA), T. Pisanu (OAC), A. Orfei (IRA-BO)
- Astronomers: M. Beltran (OAA), M. Burgay (OAC), A. Zanichelli (IRA-BO), C. Stanghellini (IRA-BO, responsible of IRA-NOTO))
- Technicians: P. Marongiu (OAC), P. Zacchiroli (IRA-MED), C. Contavalle (IRA-NOTO)
- Manager: S. Tingay (Section II)
The activities of the review include the production of:
1) a comprehensive list of all receiver developments currently
underway within INAF, including their status, the people working on
the developments, the science goals that they are addressing, and the
estimated cost to complete;
2) a priority list of work to undertake on existing receiver systems
that require maintenance/repair, identifying the people to do the
work, and initial estimates of cost and time;
3) a roadmap for future receiver developments at INAF.
The WG has reported its considerations and recommendations in a written form. Besides the priority lists of existing, under-development, and future receivers, the report identifies possible teams to pursue the developments and some initial cost and schedule estimates.
During this workshop, the report has been presented to the Italian radio astronomical community. Relevant feedback from this community consultation will then be incorporated into the final form of the report. The report will ultimately be transmitted to the Scientific Director of INAF for consideration.
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