I-GALFA: The Inner-Galaxy ALFA Low-Latitude H I Survey

TL;DR

The I-GALFA survey uses the Arecibo telescope's advanced receiver to map the inner Galactic disk's HI gas with high resolution and sensitivity, providing detailed data for galactic studies.

Contribution

This survey is the first to utilize the ALFA receiver for high-resolution, sensitive mapping of HI in the inner Galaxy within the specified longitude range.

Findings

Mapped 1.3 million spectra of HI in the inner Galaxy

Achieved 3.4 arcmin resolution with high sensitivity

Data will be publicly available for further research

Abstract

The I-GALFA survey is mapping all the HI in the inner Galactic disk visible to the Arecibo 305m telescope within 10 degrees of the Galactic plane (longitudes of 32 to 77 deg at b=0 deg). The survey, which will obtain 1.3 million independent spectra, became possible with the installation of the 7-beam Arecibo L-Band Feed Array (ALFA) receiver in 2004. ALFA's 3.4 arcmin resolution and tremendous sensitivity offer a great opportunity to observe the fine details of HI in the Galaxy. The I-GALFA survey began in 2008 May and will be completed in 2009 September. The data will be made publicly available when the calibrated and gridded cubes are completed. Further information on the I-GALFA project may be found at www.naic.edu/~galfa.