National Optical Astronomy Observatory Cerro Tololo Inter-American Observatory

National Optical Astronomy Observatory Cerro Tololo Inter-American Observatory Status and Plans Alistair Walker Tucson, AZ 5 October, 2006

Plan of this talk 1. Update from 2005 Big Issues 2. Blanco & its Instrumentation 3. User statistics 4. DECam 5. SOAR & its Instrumentation 6. SAM status 7. SMARTS II & other facilities 8. Conclusions

Update From 2005 Big Issues Senior Review - NOAO proposal is to privatize 10% of the Blanco. DONE (8. 5%) Dark Energy Task Force - report will determine whether mid-term (i. e. pre-LSST, pre-JDEM) experiments such as DES are worthwhile. POSITIVE Money - NOAO budget low. CTIO & KPNO are lower priority. 25% of NOAO budget goes to NOAO-S CTIO and KPNO each cost ~$4 M /annum, i. e. each ~15% of the NOAO base budget. NO CHANGE. Dollar still relatively weak against the Chilean peso. LSST - site decision April 2006. Call for site proposals ~ now. Staffing - Evolving CTIO staff successfully program and finance issues. Senior Review - Long S. R. process saps morale. Austerity doubtless will continue… SUCCESS!

Blanco Telescope • • The Blanco telescope continues to be classically scheduled with a combination of few-night and survey programs, and from 2006 B, with partner programs (Yonsei 15 nights/yr, UIUC 13 nights/yr) Telescope & instrument suite (Mosaic, ISPI, Hydra, RC Spec) as for previous years The weather has been good, although we are now threatened with a “moderate” El Niño We shutdown in November 2005 to fix three broken lateral supports and install a more compliant design for the counterweight assemblies. Plans for 2007 • • Continue to monitor and characterize the telescope optical performance Monitor the primary edge supports, formulate plan for FY 08(? ) • • Continue with the upgrade of the aluminizing chamber, need in ~ 1 year Replace the F/8 secondary lead screw assemblies Replace the single Blanco UPS with several smaller units Upgrade control room with LCD displays, replace chairs etc • • • Aid in the development of the Dark Energy Camera Liaise regarding Blanco+NEWFIRM Try to figure out how to do the Blanco TCS Upgrade project • Rationalize technical support given loss of key staff

Blanco telescope - recent progress • • • Primary mirror repositioned 2. 3 mm in zdirection Radial support mechanism understood Mirror movement in cell identified and (partially) resolved Telescope flexure measured Aluminization chamber upgrade underway Two degree slew time reduction from 35 s to 17 s - feasibility established Image Quality obtained by the Super. Macho program, 2005 B, airmass corrected, VR filter. Dates: 2005 -09 -05 to 2005 -1231, Blue: pre-shutdown, red: post -shutdown, approx equal number (~580) exposures each.

Blanco Telescope -EOR analysis Stats, on a run-by-run basis (Down from 20. 5% last year) Instrument-by-Instrument Analysis of Lost Time 2005 (Up from 5. 5% last year) ISPI Mosaic Hydra RC Spec 2006 N 06 3. 3% 4. 3% 8. 0% 9. 3% 6. 0% 6. 2% 8. 4% 16. 8% 65 161 72 43 7. 7% 341 Overall (Same as last year) GOALS ACHIEVED % 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 raw 2 3 2 1 1 4 7 10 7 12 14 weather-corrected 2 1 2 2 4 7 3 42 Conclusions • The science is being done -- For most people • Technical downtime is too high, why? -- Science staff support for Blanco is < 1 FTE -- Key technical support expertise lost -- Aging instruments

Blanco Telescope Evaluation The following are a common set of questions for KPNO, CTIO and TSIP time. Choice of: Not Applicable Unsatisfactory Adequate Good Excellent Pre-Observing Preparation and Assistance a. Information/assistance with travel planning, lodgings, and logistics? b. Information on instrumentation and telescope documentation necessary for proper execution of your program? Telescope and Instrument Operations Overall telescope/instrument performance during your observing run? Software a. Observing and instrument software? b. Software support for data reduction? Assistance from scientific and technical personnel a. Scientific support? b. Observing Assistant support? c. Other Assistance (e. g. engineering, electronics, computing)? Overall observatory experience How would you rate your overall observing run at this observatory?

Blanco Telescope

Blanco Instrumentation MOSAIC II – What the observers said (and what we are doing…) – – – We note that – – – Transputers, SUN sparcstations and SUN OS are all obsolete The TRAMbox is scarily complex (a. k. a “silicon city”) and we have no spare Mosaic is a complex system that needs too many “restarts” Some of the problems are with “communications”, a generic problem at the Blanco Plans for FY 07 – – – Incorporate Armin Rest’s observing Guide and QL pipeline tools (under review) They don’t like the autologger (all the info is in the headers; can we use the KP version? ) Need a hot spare computer (done) Tweaks to the observing software (we don’t dare…) Provide a mult-format DVDR (done) Full maintenance of the filter track (becoming a “problem”? ) Improve focus procedure, include “donut” analysis software Update and rationalize calibration database Improve the controller reliability (reduce need for re-starts) Nice things that may or may not happen – – E 2 E pipeline Upgrade to Monsoon controllers A decent user interface Stubb’s laser calibration system

Blanco Instrumentation HYDRA – What the observers said (and what we are doing…) – – – We note that – – – Hydra is a sophisticated machine that needs regular tlc Despite being uncompetitive with the 8 -m’s, it’s still popular Documentation, tools, GUI etc all in good shape Comprehensive “state of the instrument” document written by Knut Olsen We await 2007 B with anticipation, when Hydra becomes “fixed”… Plans for FY 07 – – Computer sluggish (replaced with more potent machine) Hot spare computer (done) Calibration lamps too faint for Echelle mode (we agree, non-trivial to do something about though) Install DVD burner (done) G 181 low efficiency (web page updated) Regular mechanical maintenance, a few miscellaneous minor mechanical improvements Re-measure G 181 Cookbook with common procedures Nice things that may or may not happen – – Modify spectrograph to use VPH gratings, replace several echelle filters Motorize camera focus Redo CCD thermal path to avoid the need for solid nitrogen… Redo F/8 secondary focus screws

Blanco Instrumentation ISPI – What the observers said (and what we are doing…) – Add information on the sensitivity of the narrow band filters (underway) – Add ETC for extended objects (on Bob Blum’s to do list) – Nothing else - the users love this instrument – We note that – Main problem is the TCS connection (restart GUI, reboot TCS router) – Another is the GUI hanging during co-adds - rare and can’t be reproduced – Plans for FY 07 – Keep working at the GUI hanging problem – Clean a second window so it can act as spare – Add a section on troubleshooting to the documentation

Blanco Instrumentation RC SPECTROGRAPH – What the observers said (and what we are doing…) – Arcon hang-ups, computer problems? (hot spare provided) – Various 4 -m Cassegrain rotator-guider problems (being worked on) – We note that – This was a state-of-the-art spectrograph. In 1970 – The Loral 3 K has no spare, is mounted in a dedicated dewar, requires UV flooding, and has given trouble – Average one block per semester – Will 2007 A be the end? – Plans for FY 07 – We hang on –

Use pattern in 2006 A & B for the Blanco telescope 2006 A 2006 B 2006 % Total nights SCI+ENG Total nights SCI 181 167 182 172. 5 363 339. 5 Mosaic engineering 52 2 107 3 159 5 47% ISPI engineering 47 3 24 2 71 5 21% RCSP engineering 23 2 7. 5 0. 5 30. 5 8 9% Hydra engineering 45 2 34 4 79 6 23% Visitor 5 0 5 Surveys Non-surveys 6 161 40 132. 5 46 293. 5

Blanco Instrumentation Evolution • Mosaic => Dark Energy Camera (Delivery March 2010) • ISPI => NEWFIRM (~50% duty cycle - when? ) • HYDRA => upgrade? • RC Spectrograph => retire • New? (NOAO staff initiative, System Workshop)

NEWFIRM – Shared between KPNO and CTIO – Status: On Mayall for testing in early 2007 – Mayall/Blanco sharing TBD. When? For how long? – Concern that surveys get efficiently completed – Need to avoid collision with DECam commissioning – The “no instrument change” Blanco philosophy dictates only Mosaic or DECam + NEWFIRM – Other facilities, such as VISTA? Is there a science-driven reason for preferring one hemisphere over the other?

DECAM Opening for filter changer and shutter. Shutter is installed directly in front of C 4. UMichigan is designing the combined shutter/filter changer unit. It will house four filter slides each carrying 2 filters Will reuse F/8 mirror and some mounting hardware Hexapod alignment Cover and baffles system

Full size test dewar - designed at Fermilab Built by UChicago Cryo and Vacuum controls Full size prototype is being built by U. Chicago. It will be ready for CCDs this summer and will be used to test multi. CCD readout

Dark Energy Camera Status • Reviews & Approvals – – DETF recommendation positive (on the need for near-term medium sized dark energy projects) – DECam CD-1 review, July 2006 – DECam CD-2 review, planned for March 2007 (baseline, “full approval”) – Data management review on same timescale – PPARC awarded UCL funding to complete optics design, committed funds for optics purchase & fab – Spanish funding agencies agreed to fund CCD electronics – • HEPAP (advises DOE, NSF) recommended (April 2006) that DOE begin construction of DECam in FY 08 Optics design had PDR, ready for CDR and immediate order of glass Partnership – – UK group led by UCL, with participants from a number of other UK universities – Spanish group, Barcelona & Madrid – U. Michigan added, Penn about to joint, strong interest from OSU. – Strong interest from Brazil – • Fermilab led. Core (initial) group of partners U. Chicago, U. Illinois, LBNL, NOAO Partnership management copied from SDSS Funding – UCL-led PPARC funding application, $2. 5 M; Barcelona institutes ~$800 K. All partners come in with a mixture of cash & kind

NOAO User Community use of DECam The User community has two routes to DECam data: • The DES itself. A project deliverable is that the DES data flows into the NOAO Science Archive (NSA). The NSA will also host reduced data and survey products. NOAO & NCSA are collaborating on developing the NSA, NCSA will provide some of the services for its operation. Access is by a VO-compliant portal. • Through observing with DECam on individual projects, via the usual NOAO observing proposal mechanism, whereby time is assigned by competitive review. See http: //www. noao. edu/gateway/propinfo. html Some of these projects could be surveys themselves. This requires a pipeline that processes non-DES data, and also flows it into the NSA.

NOAO User Community use of DECam Document - Community Needs for the Dark Energy Camera & Data Management System: The DES requirements are in general very stringent, and there is a high degree of overlap between DES and community requirements. Highlights - • • • DECam should be useable over all optical wavelengths 320 -1100 nm (an Atmospheric Dispersion Corrector is not a requirement). Filter mechanism design should both minimize filter swaps, and allow such swaps to be carried out safely in a reasonable time. F/8 mirror easily available (flip top end). Observing protocols and operation modes are listed. Data format and metadata requirements specified. DMS must support use both by DES and the community.

Dark Energy Camera critical paths CCDs: • • LBNL can deliver CCDs at a rate of 20/month after 3 month startup We need 70 CCDs for the FP including spares Preliminary yield estimate of 25% implies ~18 months Cost is ~$23 k/wafer, 25% yield implies $1. 6 M Construction start of Nov. 07 implies last CCD is finished April ’ 09 Install last CCD and test full camera ~ 5 months Ready to ship to Chile ~ Sept. 09 → March 2010 acceptance tests complete Level 2 Milestone on July 2010 includes 4 months contingency Optics: • • • Blanks ~ $0. 9 M , 8 month delivery, Polishing ~ $1. 5 M, 18 month delivery Assembly and alignment into corrector ~ 6 months Ready to ship to Chile ~ 2. 75 yrs after procurement begins Feb. 07 blank procurement → Oct. 09 delivery to CTIO → March 2010 acceptance tests complete Level 2 Milestone in July. 2010 includes 4 months contingency

Data Management Development Plan • Collaboration between – Univ. of Illinois & NCSA (LEADER: Joe Mohr), NOAO-DPP, Fermilab, U. Chicago • The Task – Process 200 TB of raw data in four (or five) bands over the five years of the DES into science-ready images, co-adds, and catalogs – The DES dataset will approach 1 PB including a 100 TB catalog that will serve as a key science analysis tool – A similar amount of raw data from community science over the same period • Progress – DM evaluated by means of a set of yearly data challenges – Working group set up to define interfaces and relationships between DES and non-DES data, and define deliverables. Camera Exposure – DM review - reporting to NOAO, NCSA, Raw/night Fermilab directors Raw rate OC 3 – Clears path for possible NSF funding of DES FIU science LSST 6. 3 15 15 4000 155 45(155) DECam 1. 0 100 0. 36 100 155 45(155) Unit GB seconds TB Mbps

SOAR

SOAR telescope status – Primary mirror lateral link repair • Replacement of passive lateral links (6) with active links to allow mirror figure to be controlled by LUT’s for long periods of time • Designed by the LSST group at NOAO Tucson, installed March 2006. • Tests show that the repair has been completely successful and the telescope now performs to specifications • Wavefront sensors at each focus to close the loop added – Dome/shutter repairs • The shutter rails will not be replaced • Safety/operational concerns will be attended to - brakes, relocate controls etc – Baffling • M 1, M 2, M 3 baffling has removed high and variable background, glints etc – What now? • Finish commissioning tip-tilt, wavefront sensors, environmental control, instruments – Science • 2005 A, B, 2006 A – shared risk science. In practice, very little successful science has been done • 2006 B - 30% science scheduled, each month centered on new Moon. SOI and OSIRIS only • 2007 A – 40% science scheduled, target 60%

SOAR instruments – SOAR Optical Imager (SOI) in regular use. • Improvements to instrument baffling • Leach controller p/supplies relocated, solved “noise bands”, fewer cables in rotator – OSIRIS. Installed, aligned, in use • Revised Lyot stop to be installed next month – Goodman Spectrograph (UNC) • • Decision to replace LL CCDs. Spectral Instruments camera plus Fairchild 4 K CCD purchased by UNC Should be ready for science by start of 2007 B, but schedule is tight Aperture-cutting machine bought for Gemini-S, to be shared In the meantime, other commissioning activities are proceeding using the LL CCD camera – Spartan IR imager (MSU) • Delay of a year due to mechanism problems • Delivery to SOAR expected any moment now – IFU Spectrograph (Brazil) • Various delays, mostly funding related • Expected at end of 2007? – Phoenix -2008? – STELES and SAM - 2008 -2009

SAM Improved angular resolution at optical & IR wavelengths - factor 2 -5 – NOAO Instrument Contribution to SOAR – Ground Layer AO system using Rayleigh laser Uniform and selective compensation of low-altitude turbulence Relatively wide field (3 arc minutes) Correction uses low altitude Rayleigh laser plus 2 or more guide stars R < 18 http: //www. ctio. noao. edu/new/Telescopes/SOAR/Instruments/SAM/ – NOAO Major Instrumentation Project. PM is Nicole van der Bliek, PS is Andrei Tokovinin – PDR in December 2005, In fabrication, NGS commissioning 2008, LGS version a year later

Small Telescopes SMARTS INSTRUMENTS – 1. 5 m Mostly Cass Spectrograph with Loral 1 K CCD, but large block of U. Montreal IR Imager CPAPIR (AMNH) time. – – 1. 3 m ANDICAM (OSU). Dual CCD/IR Imager Qscheduled. 1. 0 m CCD Imager (OSU). Fairchild 4 K CCDS – 0. 9 m CCD Imager (CTIO). SITe 2 K CCD How is SMARTS II different from SMARTS I? • • • Easier to come and go… Admin. through CTIO, not AOSS Nothing else - don’t change a good thing… SMARTS Consortium Members AMNH NOAO U. Delaware Fisk U. Georgia State U. OSU Sejong U. STSc. I SUNY Stony Brook Vanderbilt U. Yale U.

Other Community Facilities • GONG • PROMPT – – • UNC, PI Dan Reichart 6 x 0. 5 m telescopes, GRB rapid-response, triggers To. O at SOAR Significant education component Status - July 2006 full operations start SCHMIDT – NASA debris (geosynchronous orbit) program - Pat Seitzer (U. Mich) • SWARTHMORE All-Sky Emission Line Survey – all new… • ALPACA 8 -m survey telescope? • SARA South • Las Cumbres Observatory Global telescope network - 2 m and 0. 5 m robotic telescopes network P. I. Arlin Crotts Robotic conversion of the Lowell 0. 6 -m telescope

ALPACA

Other Community Facilities

Not a community facility…

but where is it? ?

Final thoughts • SOAR progress is the big news. Need now to get the users to come, get the science flowing. The Goodman spectrograph is VERY important and needs to be ready asap. • Keeping the Blanco state-of-the-art is difficult, with aging instruments and small staff. Need to have the telescope in tip-top shape for DECam arrival in 2010. • For the years 2009 -2014 the DES should produce a compelling science result; DECam is a stepping stone to LSST technically, operationally, and scientifically. • SMARTS II is underway. It’s proven very successful, but has always been on-the-edge financially, and requires a core of dedicated users. • CTIO remains an attractive environment for southern-hemisphere projects and experiments