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CALL FOR PROPOSALS - HEINRICH HERTZ SUBMILLIMETER TELESCOPE

This is a call for observing proposals for the Heinrich Hertz Submillimeter Telescope on Mt. Graham, Arizona for a scheduling period from mid-October 1999 through January 2001.

Facility instruments which are expected to be available for general use during that period include heterodyne receivers (SIS mixers) for the frequency ranges 200-270 GHz (one polarization), 325-383 GHz (dual orthogonal polarizations), and 432-492 GHz (one polarization). A facility 19-channel bolometer array from the MPIfR will also be available during this observing period. The array operates in the 870 micron wavelength band, and has a typical rms sensitivity of ~1 Jy/root-second.

A high-frequency heterodyne receiver developed by the CfA Submillimeter Receiver Lab will be available for shared use during the Steward Observatory scheduling period. This receiver employs a hot-electron bolometer (HEB) which covers the frequency range 790 - 840 GHz. Measured double-sideband receiver temperature is 900 K. The spectroscopic bandwidth is 1000 MHz. With the latest improvements to the telescope surface, excellent high-frequency performance has been achieved for this system.

Available spectral line backends include two acousto-optic spectrometers (AOSs) each with 1024 channels covering a total bandwidth of 1 GHz and a set of filterbanks with 256 x 1 MHz filters, 256 x 250 kHz filters, and 128 x 62.5 kHz filters.

Further details about the telescope and these instruments may be found under "Specifications" on the SMTO web site (http://maisel.as.arizona.edu:8080/), which is also accessible through the Steward Observatory home page (http://www.as.arizona.edu); or by contacting the SMTO staff (T.L. Wilson, Director), or (regarding the 200-310 and 430-495 GHz receivers only) Chris Walker at Steward Observatory. Receiver and spectrometer details are given in the SMTO web site.

Proposals should consist of the standard SMTO proposal cover sheet; a brief scientific justification (not more than 3 pages); and a source list with observing time requirements and justification. SMTO proposal cover sheets are available from the SMTO web site (under "Observing at the SMT"), in either PostScript or LaTex format.

Proposals will be reviewed by the Submillimeter Telescope TAC, appointed by the Steward Observatory Director. Scheduling of successful proposals will be done according to availability of the receivers requested. Users should expect that weather-dependent priority scheduling will be used for this scheduling period, with proposals in the 430-495 and 790-840 GHz bands given priority for observations during optimum weather conditions.

Please submit five paper copies to

by Tuesday, September 19, 2000.

Last modified: Sept. 11, 2000
Contact: Harold M. Butner Harold M. Butner (hbutner@as.arizona.edu),