e-MERLIN/VLBI National Radio Astronomy Facility
www.e-merlin.ac.uk
Invitation for Proposals: Cycle-14
Deadline for Receipt of Proposals:
13:59:59 UT on 18th May 2022
Full Details: https://www.e-merlin.ac.uk/observe.html
e-MERLIN requests proposals from the international astronomical community for observations to be made during Cycle-14. 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, https://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-14 e-MERLIN Capabilities
[e-MERLIN observations between August 1st 2022 and January 31st, 2023 ]
Deadline for Receipt of Proposals:
13:59:59 UT on 18th May 2022
Note change in time from previous Cycles
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 which was launched on March 1st, 2021. This programme will provide facility access and financial support for users from eligible projects in Cycle-14. 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 upcoming deadlines for EVN proposal submission are June 1st & October 1st, 2022.
See https://www.e-merlin.ac.uk/tools/e-MERLIN_Cycle_14_CfP.pdf for a fuller version of this Cycle-14 Call for Proposals document
e-MERLIN/VLBI National Facility, The University of Manchester,
Jodrell Bank Observatory,
Macclesfield,
Cheshire SK11 9DL,
United Kingdom
emerlin@jb.man.ac.uk