Cycle-13 e-MERLIN Call for Proposals [deadline 27th October 2021]

e-MERLIN/VLBI National Radio Astronomy Facility

www.e-merlin.ac.uk

Invitation for Proposals: Cycle-13

Deadline for Receipt of Proposals: 

23:59:59 UT on 27th October 2021

Full Details:

http://www.e-merlin.ac.uk/observe.html

e-MERLIN requests proposals from the international astronomical community for observations to be made during Cycle-13. Proposals are competitively peer-reviewed under standard STFC rules by the Programme Allocation of Telescope Time (PATT) e-MERLIN Time Allocation Group. Allocation will be made on the basis of scientific merit and technical feasibility alone. 

 e-MERLIN Science: e-MERLIN observations address a broad range of science topics,

http://www.e-merlin.ac.uk/science.html

and its unique combination of angular resolution (mas) and sensitivity (microJy) provide crucial insights in multiple science areas including:

·         Star-formation and black hole growth in galaxies.

·         The physical processes which govern the formation of stars.

·         The modes of activity in nearby galaxies.

·         Transient radio sources.

·         Radio spectral lines (masers and in absorption).

·         The energetic processes in relativistic outflows from jets generated by black holes and compact objects.

·         Along with multiple other applications.

e-MERLIN provides high angular resolution (12 – 150 milli-arcsec) and high sensitivity (micro-Janksy) imaging at cm wavelengths as well as polarimetry, spectroscopy, and astrometry. e-MERLIN is an SKA-pathfinder instrument providing observations with resolutions and frequencies comparable to those that will be provided by SKA1-mid.

 Cycle-13 e-MERLIN Capabilities

[e-MERLIN observations between February 1st and July 31st, 2022 ]

Deadline for Receipt of Proposals:

23:59:59 UT on 27th October 2021

                                                    Ang. res.    Sensitivity

L-band (1.25 – 1.75 GHz)      ~150 mas    ~12 uJy/bm*

C-band (4.5 – 7.5 GHz)         ~ 40 mas      ~10 uJy/bm*   

K-band (19 – 25 GHz)            ~12 mas      ~130 uJy/bm

* Assumes inclusion of the Lovell Telescope at L/C-band and a full imaging track (~12hrs including calibration). It is envisaged that a limited amount of Lovell time will be available for PATT programmes during Cycle-13. The full invitation for proposals, including technical specifications, and links to the e-MERLIN Sensitivity Calculator are available at:

www.e-merlin.ac.uk/observe.html

Access and financial support for e-MERLIN Scientists and Users: e-MERLIN is open to all users with projects allocated solely on the basis of scientific merit and technical feasibility. Additionally, e-MERLIN is one of the participating infrastructures in the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme, the OPTICON-RadioNet PILOT project was launched on March 1st, 2021. This programme will provide facility access and financial support for users from eligible projects in Cycle-13.  For further information or contact e-MERLIN staff (emerlin@jb.man.ac.uk).  

EVN+e-MERLIN Observations: The full integration of e-MERLIN telescopes within the European VLBI Network is also available. This mode of observing provides e-MERLIN’s additional ‘short-spacing’ (10 – 200 km) component available to the EVN which allows imaging of a wider range of spatial scales. Proposals for e-MERLIN + EVN observations should be made via the EVN Programme Committee rather than through e-MERLIN directly. The next Call for EVN Proposals (including combined e-MERLIN + EVN observations) is detailed at www.evlbi.org. The next deadlines for EVN proposals are October 1st 2021, & February 1st, 2022.

e-MERLIN/VLBI National Facility, The University of Manchester,

Jodrell Bank Observatory,

Macclesfield,

Cheshire SK11 9DL,

United Kingdom

emerlin@jb.man.ac.uk