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K-Band Science Using the Green Bank Telescope

Posted By Anika Schmiedeke On In | Comments Disabled

19th – 21st September 2022, Green Bank, WV

Summary

From the 19th to the 21st of September, 2022, Green Bank Observatory held a workshop with the goals of

1) celebrating the success of prior observing campaigns and the K-band Focal Plane Array (KFPA), while encouraging use of the available archival data;

2) polling the community on the science being done or proposed at K-band to establish if the GBT is able to meet those needs and

3) seeking community input on the future direction of K-band science and instrumentation at Green Bank.

Download the full report using the button and link below or image-link to the right

K-Band Science Using the Green Bank Telescope Meeting Report and Summary [1]Download [1]
[1]

Scientific Rationale

With the sensitivity arising from the large collecting area of the GBT and clean radio-frequency environment of the Green Bank site, the KFPA has been a popular instrument among GBT users, including those in the areas of galaxy evolution, planetary systems, as well as astrochemistry. The primary use of the KFPA, however, has been to observe star-forming material in Galactic clouds. In the last few years three separate large-scale surveys have used the GBT and KFPA to map out the moderately-dense gas tracer of ammonia in our galaxy. These surveys (KEYSTONE, GAS and RAMPS: Keown et al, 2019; Friesen et al, 2017 & Hogge et al, 2018, respectively) are now complete and the data are becoming available to the public. Green Bank Observatory is also now considering what potential future instrumentation might best serve the astronomical community at K-band. A white paper [2] to the decadal survey recently proposed a phased-array feed and the Astro2020 panel recommendations included radio cameras as one of four key areas in which “outstanding opportunities exist for new mid-scale facilities to address compelling science questions.” 

It is timely for GBO to host scientists working at the K-band range of frequencies, evaluate the current state of the science and seek new directions in both the scientific research and instrumentation capabilities.

Recordings

All presentations and discussions were recorded, and are available here:

Welcome – Jim Jackson [3]

Results of the GBT Ammonia Survey – Jaime Pineda [4]

The Radio Ammonia Mid-Plane Survey (RAMPS) – Jim Jackson [5]

New Frontiers in Line Modelling – Brian Svoboda [6]

The GOTHAM Project: a Showcase of the KPFA for Astrochemistry – Brett McGuire [7]

GLUCOSE The GBT L1544 Unbiased Complex Organics SurvEy – Samantha Scibelli [8]

Early Results from the KEYSTONE Survey – Helen Kirk [9]

The ngVLA at K-Band – Erik Rosolowsky [10]

Discussion – The Green Bank Ammonia Surveys, What Now? [11]

K-Band Instrumentation – Kevin Bandura [12]

Technology development for a K-Band Wide Field Imaging Array – Karl Warnick [13]

Extragalactic Observations Using the KFPA – Jim Braatz [14]

Discussion – What is the Future of K-Band Science with the GBT? [15]

The Hunt for Lost Interstellar Rings and Chains – Andrew Burkhardt [16]

Detection of Dense Gas in the Galactic Bar Dust Lanes Using the GBT – Natalie Butterfield [17]

Probing Molecular Cloud Surfaces at K Band – Pedro Salas [18]

Magnetic Field Strength in Molecular Clouds of the Gould Belt – Jordan Guerra Aguilera [19]

Discussion – What is the Next Step for Scientific Instrumentation at K Band with the GBT? [20]

Scientific Organizing Committee

Structure of the Workshop

In the tradition of past Green Bank workshops the total number of participants will be limited (~50 people) which allows for candid discussions. The workshop will be held over ~3 days. Only a limited number of talks will be given which will allow ample time for discussion. Talks given will focus on survey results and the dissemination of those data, new results and general reviews. There will be a session dedicated to future instrumentation, both to evaluate community requirements and to explore the potential options for the GBT. There will be space and time for poster presentations. The detailed schedule of the workshop, such as the number and length of talks will be determined at a later date. We hope to provide virtual access to all main talks; other aspects of the workshop (i.e. panels and evening lectures) may remain in-person only.

Topics

Local Organizing Committee

List of Participants

Speakers and/or In-person
Kevin Bandura (WVU)
Jim Braatz (NRAO)
Andrew Burkhardt (Worcester State University)
Natalie Butterfield (NRAO)
Alex Byrne (MIT)
Dave Frayer (GBO)
Zach Fried (MIT)
Rachel Friesen (University of Toronto)
Jordan Guerra Aguilera (Villanova University)
Jim Jackson (GBO)
Helen Kirk (Herzberg Astronomy & Astrophysics Resesarch Centre)
Glen Langston (GBO)
Jay Lockman (GBO)
Ron Maddalena (GBO)
Brett McGuire (MIT)
Toney Minter (GBO)
Larry Morgan (GBO)
Jaime Pineda (Max-Planck-l nstitut für extraterrestrische Physik)
Tony Remijan (NRAO)
Erik Rosolowsky (University of Alberta)
Pedro Salas (GBO)
Anika Schmiedeke (GBO)
Samantha Scibelli (University of Arizona)
Bob Simon (GBO)
Brian Svoboda (NRAO)
Hannah Toru (Shay) (MIT)
Karl Warnick (BYU)
Ellie White (GBO)
Steve White (GBO)
Ci Xue (MIT)

Remote
Mitch Burnett (BYU)
Tierra Candeleria (NMT)
Hamid Hassani (University of Alberta)
Juan Li (Shanghai Astronomical Observatory)
Xing Lu (Shanghai Astronomical Observatory)
Brian Kent (NRAO)
Yvonne Pendleton (NASA Ames)
Maria Pettyjohn (UNSW)
Yancy Shirley (University of Arizona)
Rey Squillace (University of Arizona)
Glenn White (Rutherford Lab UK & Open University, UK)
Jinjin Xie (Shanghai Astronomical Observatory)
Katarina Yocum (NASA-Goddard)