Proposal Call

POSSUM Early Science: Call for Proposals


Background


Observations for ASKAP Early Science will begin in late 2016. As described in the Early Science Program document, one of the two primary observing streams for ASKAP Early Science will be a 1-MHz and 18.5-kHz survey in full Stokes, from 700 to 1800 MHz over a wide area of sky with 4-12 hours integration time per field. This will provide broadband polarisation SEDs, both as a counterpoint to the capabilities of the full POSSUM survey, and as a way of preparing for full POSSUM.

For early science, raw data will be processed by CSIRO to form I, Q, U and V cubes, and basic source catalogues. It will be the responsibility of the POSSUM team to further process these data into polarisation and RM catalogues, and to join together data from separate 300-MHz frequency bands.

We here call for proposals for POSSUM Early Science projects, i.e. projects that require processing by the POSSUM team, beyond the standard early science products provided publicly by CSIRO. Proposals should be submitted via this form by June 30, 2016.

Selection Criteria and Prioritisation Process


The selection criteria for the assessment of projects are as follows:

  1. Essential Contributes to one or more technical areas needed for polarisation calibration, commissioning, processing or cataloguing
  2. Essential Makes use of the unique broad bandwidth capabilities of ASKAP Early Science
  3. Desirable Contributes to the development of PBCat, PPC or PVACat
  4. Desirable Provides a path to short-term science outcomes

After submission, each project will be assessed by the Principal Investigators. Possible outcomes are:

  • decision to support a project and add it to the Early Science Project Registry.
  • request for modifications or for a merger with another proposed project
  • decision not to support a project

When a project is supported and added to the registry, it will be awarded a ranking (1, 2, 3, 4) based on the selection criteria above. Each proposal will also be assigned to one or more observing fields (usually those fields specified by the proposer). These may be existing fields or new fields. Existing fields will already have been prioritised A or B, and will have this priority re-assessed on the basis of the project ranking. New fields will be assigned a priority A or B on the basis of the project ranking.

Observing fields will be subsequently scheduled for observations on the basis of priority, technical feasibility and other constraints, in consultation with CSIRO and EMU. List of EMU fields to be added

Contact


Questions on the process should be directed via email to Bryan Gaensler.