The ObsMode 2020 Process

TL;DR

The ObsMode 2020 process aimed to prepare ALMA capabilities for future observing cycles, but COVID-19 caused delays; some capabilities were successfully deployed earlier, with ongoing preparations for others.

Contribution

This paper documents the updated ObsMode2020 process, including delays, achievements, and plans for ALMA capabilities amidst pandemic challenges.

Findings

7m-array polarization capability deployed for Cycle 8

Subsystem readiness for phased array improved

Delays caused by COVID-19 pandemic

Abstract

ObsMode is a yearly process which aims at preparing capabilities for future ALMA Observing cycles. The process has been running for a number of years tied to each ALMA observing cycle, with various leaderships. This document specifically summarizes the ObsMode2020 process (April- October 2020) with a new scheme led by the Joint ALMA Observatory. In the ObsMode2020 process, seven capabilities are identified as high priority items, for which it was originally aimed to be ready for Cycle 9. However, because of the observatory shutdown due to the covid-19 pandemic, we were forced to delay the test plan by one year. While no new data sets were obtained during the observatory shutdown, verifications using the existing data allowed us to offer the 7m-array polarization capability (in ACA standalone mode, single field) for Cycle 8 starting from October, 2021. In addition, subsystem readiness and policy-side preparations for the phased array observing mode were improved for Cycle 8. Other high priority items were decided to be carried over to the ObsMode2021 process.