An I3 funded by the EU through FP6

Alastair G Gunn

University of Manchester Jodrell Bank Observatory

OPTICON BOARD MEETING – 11th/12th October 2004, Grenoble

RadioNet:

Advanced Radio Astronomy in Europe

RadioNet Partners & Mission

• RadioNet has 20 partners: all of the major radio astronomy facilities and the laboratories involved in technology development

• Coordinated by the University of Manchester, UK

• Remit is to support the European radio astronomy community and to enhance the European radio astronomy facilities

• RadioNet was awarded €12.4M

The Telescopes & Trans-National Access 1

• Europe has some of the largest and most sophisticated radio telescopes on Earth. These facilities are working together more closely than ever under the RadioNet umbrella.

• Telescopes:– European VLBI Network (EVN) is the most sensitive VLBI array

on Earth. Has three telescopes in 70-100 m class and more are being built – 64-m in Sardinia, IT (2006), 40-m at Yebes, ES (2004);

– IRAM: runs Plateau de Bure (FR) (progenitor of ALMA) and Pico Veleta (ES: largest mm dish in world);

– JCMT in Hawaii, largest sub-mm capable dish in the world;– MERLIN: UK’s 7-telescope array, has the same resolution in

the radio as the HST; being upgraded using fibre optic cables.– MPIfR – Effelsberg (DE) 100-m; 2nd largest steerable dish in the

world;– OSO-20m; highly capable mm dish in Sweden;– WSRT – recently upgraded, 14 –element interferometer in NL

The Telescopes & Trans-National Access 2

Science with RadioNet Facilities: MERLIN & EVN

• MERLIN is the UK’s radio imaging camera: provides radio images with the same level of detail as the Hubble Space Telescope does in the optical

• MERLIN image of nearby galaxy M82 shows ~50 bright spots supernovae

• The European VLBI Network (EVN) provides a zoom capability for more detailed studies of these supernovae

M82: MERLIN

Science with RadioNet Facilities: WSRT

• Westerbork Synthesis Radio Telescope (WSRT) in the Netherlands is the premier instrument for studies of HI, the most abundant material in the Universe.

• Optical image of M31 compared with WSRT image of HI in the same galaxy.

HI

Optical

Science with RadioNet Facilities: JCMT

• James Clerk Maxwell Telescope (JCMT) in Hawaii, with SCUBA, has demonstrated the power of sub-mm science. Has been a crucial pathfinder for the Atacama Large Millimetre Array (ALMA).

• Cosmology. Observe dusty, star-forming galaxies in early Universe. SCUBA has found > 100 sub-mm galaxies.

• Star-formation: SCUBA probes through the obscuring dust/gas to reveal

the details underneath• Planets: SCUBA shows us a dusty debris disk around Epsilon Eridani

RadioNet Joint Research Activities (JRAs)

• RadioNet has three JRAS, developing the future technology and software for radio astronomy:

– ALBUS: Advanced Long-Baseline User Softwaredeveloping advanced software for interferometers

– AMSTAR: Advanced mm and sub-mm Technology for Astronomical Researchdeveloping new mm-wave devices

– PHAROS: Phased Arrays for Reflector Observing Systemsdeveloping focal plane phased-arrays

• These developments will be crucial for the construction of ALMA and the SKA.

ALMA

SKA

• RadioNet has six NAs, linking the scientists, engineers and the next generation of researchers:

- Synergyintegrating facility access across Europe

- Science Workshops and Training Groupdissemination of science and the training of young researchers

- European Radio Astronomy Engineering Forumforum for RadioNet engineers

- Software & Users Forumforum for software developers and users

- ALMA Forummaximise European potential from ALMA

- Astronomy across Europelinking the community

- Radio Frequency Managementsolutions to radio frequency interference

RadioNet Networking Activities (NAs)

• RadioNet Mid-Year Report available on website

www.radionet-eu.org

• Good progress has been made in all areas in the 1st year of RadioNet

• Five RadioNet-funded science meetings have been held in 2004- Dense Molecular Gas around Protostars and Galactic Nuclei- Exploring the Cosmic Frontier: Astrophysical Instruments for the 21st Century- Multiwavelength Approaches to AGNs- 7th EVN Symposium- Young European Radio Astronomers Conference (YERAC)

• 2nd RadioNet Board Meeting to be held at JBO on 17th November 2004

RadioNet Highlights

• RadioNet is not enough!the future of radio astronomy in Europe seems to require

a legal organisation, or ‘foundation’, that is small and efficient but draws on the skills of other institutes

• Coordinated Outreach ProgrammesRadioNet would like to collaborate more closely with

OPTICON and ILIAS in outreach programmes

• I3 Forum (12th November 2004, Brussels)RadioNet would like to ask OPTICON whether they

consider that, under FP7, there are benefits to be had from a joint, spectrum-wide astronomy proposal

Strategic Issues