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Observing time estimates

Observing time estimates must take into account:

The total integration time should be derived using the standard formula:

displaymath813

where tex2html_wrap_inline815 and tex2html_wrap_inline817 are the telescope forward and main beam efficiencies, tex2html_wrap_inline819 is the system temperature above the atmosphere (in the antenna temperature scale), B the channel noise bandwidth, and t the total (ON + OFF) integration time. tex2html_wrap_inline819 should be estimated for an `average' summer humidity for 3mm, 2mm and 1.3mm observations (7 mm of precipitable water, or tex2html_wrap_inline827 at 230 GHz).

We ask you to specify in your proposal the parameter values ( tex2html_wrap_inline829 total integration time, overheads and dead times) adopted in your calculation of the needed telescope time.

A technical report explaining how to estimate the telescope time needed to reach a given sensitivity level in various modes of observation was published in the January 1995 issue of the IRAM Newsletter [9] . It has been included in the 30-m Telescope Manual [10]. You are asked to follow the guidelines given in this report (or to justify particular requirements) in your proposal.



lucas@iram.fr