Second Workshop on

3rd Generation Calibration

in Radio Astronomy

The workshop format

The main motivation for a new kind of workshop is the urgent need to increase the rate of evolution of the algorithms that will be needed for the calibration of the new radio telescopes. In particular, we are trying to increase the workshop "yield". The format of 3GC-II is based on the experience that was gained with 3GC-I in Nancay in 2009, which was sponsored by the SKADS program.

The workshop will be relatively long (2 weeks), and relatively small (about 20 participants). The latter will be a 50-50 complementary mix of "hardcore" and "other" participants. All will lecture each other on beamshape-related topics. After all, since 3GC is new, everyone is a student, and teaching is the most effective way to learn. Some will be invited beforehand to prepare specific topics. All are expected to prepare by reading up on 3GC.

The hardcores will be asked to arrive with one or more of their own datasets, whose results are limited by beamshape problems. We are hoping for a good spread, including all major radio telescopes (e.g. LOFAR, GMRT, EVLA, ATCA, WSRT etc). These datasets should be pre-calibrated with one of the 2GC software packages (e.g. AIPS), so that no workshop time will be lost on flagging, or the generation of a sky model. It also provides a baseline for judging the beneficial effects of 3GC.

During the first week, part of the time will be devoted to the further processing of the prepared datasets, using the DG method or similar software. A powerful server will be provided for this purpose. During the second week, we will collectively try to understand the results, and do some follow-up experiments. For instance, alternative beamshape models, with arbitrary parametrization, can be implemented in less than an hour.

The other participants will consist of people who do not (yet) have the time or the experience to be hardcore, but who intend to become active members of the 3GC community.  Their contribution could be in offering special expertise, or in creating the conditions for continued activity in this field.

Thus, the key to the workshop format is the substantial preparation that is expected from the participants, especially the hardcores. Obviously, this can be asked only if it overlaps for 80% with their regular duties. Hence the emphasis on pre-calibrating their own datasets, which they were going to do in any case, and in which they (and their bosses) have a strong personal interest.

In order to help them with their preparation, prospective participants will be invited to join our 3GC forum, and our regular weekly telecon, where they can exchange experiences and problems. As part of this process, the hardcores will be asked to submit a "PURR-log" describing their pre-calibration process in some detail, which will then be scrutinized collectively.

Note that participants may also form teams of two (not more) with complementary skills. A definitive selection of participants will be made before July 1st.

Summarizing, this workshop is not aimed at beginners, nor at those with only a general interest. All participants will be expected to do a substantial amount of preparation, in which they will be helped. They are also expected to remain active in the field afterwards. In exchange, they should emerge with a solid understanding of 3GC, and some valuable tools for further work.