VENTSPILS INTERNATIONAL RADIO ASTRONOMY CENTER

SCIENTIFIC ADVISORY CONCIL (SAC)

MINUTES from the second meeting of VIRAC SAC

Riga, Irbene, and Ventspils, June 15-16, 1998.

Organizations represented:

Estonia

TARTU OBSERVATORY (TO)

Latvia

VIRAC
INSTITUTE OF ASTRONOMY, UNIV. OF LATVIA (IA)
RIGA TECHNICAL UNIVERSITY (RTU)
INSTITUTE OF PHYSICAL ENERGETICS (IPE)
LATVIAN ACADEMY OF SCIENCES (LAS)
DAUGAVPILS PEDAGOGICAL UNIVERSITY (DPU)
VENTSPILS COLLEGE (VC)

Russia

Moscow Power Engineering Institute (MPEI)
ASTRO SPACE CENTER, LEBEDEV PHYSICAL INSTITUTE (ASC)

Sweden

Onsala Space Observatory (OSO)
Lund Observatory (LO)
The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences (RSAS)

Meeting participants: 46, including invited ones.

First session, June 15

Latvian Academy of Sciences, Meeting room of the Academy Senate

AGENDA (main topics)

Appointments of functionaries
General history and development 1993-1998
The 32-meter antenna: technical properties
Pointing and tracking: encoders & electronics
Optical guiding
First observations of astronomical sources
Radio noise background at the VIRAC site
Contacts with universities:
- University of Latvia
- Riga Technical University
- Daugavpils Pedagogical University
Contacts with amateur astronomers, and with the general public

14.00. Opening of the meeting – D.Dravins (RSAS) welcomed the participants and forwarded greetings from A.Benz ( Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, Zurich) and K.Van't Klooster (ESA–ESTEC).

1. Appointment of functionaries for the meeting. Chairperson – D.DRAVINS (RSAS, LO), Meeting Secretaries – I.KAULINA (VIRAC), I.SHMELD (VIRAC, IA).

Two persons to check the written minutes – K.BERZINS, L.ZACS (VIRAC).

The agenda was adopted as proposed.

2. General history and development 1993-1998.

E.BERVALDS (VIRAC). The chronology of the main historical events during the years 1993 - 1998 was given. The fulfillment of the main priorities as recommended at the SAC first meeting was reported. The highest priority: implementing a pointing and tracking system, with an accuracy goal of approximately 10 arcseconds – has been successfully fulfilled in its main features. Also improvement of the infrastructure at the antenna site is one of the highest priority, i.e. to assure acceptable living and working conditions for scientists, engineers and other staff in Irbene. But we have not reached the needed success in attraction of investments for the infrastructure arrangement in Irbene.

K.BERZINS displays the video about the takeover of the present VIRAC site from Russian army forces in 1994.

Questions and discussion by G.Balodis, R.Booth. V. Slysh.

3. The 32-meter antenna: technical properties.

G.BALODIS (RTU) technical properties of RT-32 achieved during the repairing of the antenna complex were reported. The remaining tasks to repair the antenna were sketched also.

Questions and discussion by V.Slysh and R.Booth.

D.BEZRUKOV (IPE) – the achievements in repairing the tracking and pointing system, and its parameters at present were reported.

Questions were posed by D.Dravins.

4. Pointing and tracking: encoders & electronics

M.ABELE (IA) – pointing and tracking system – technical properties of the encoders made by his team.

Questions by R.Booth, G.Balodis.

A.PAVENIS (IA) – about software used for pointing and tracking, about the future tasks to implement the control system.

5. Optical guiding

I.VILKS (IA) – the implemented system for optical guiding was described.

Coffee break 15.40–16.10.

6. First observations of astronomical sources.

G.OZOLINS (VIRAC) – first observations with RT-32 in the 10.7 and 11.5 GHz bands. Solar eclipse, Tau A, Cyg A, Vir A, Jupiter, Venus were observed successfully.

Discussion – V.Slysh, R.Booth, G.Balodis.

7. Radio noise background at the VIRAC site

G.OZOLINS – about the search of possible strong interference at Irbene. 1390–4960 MHz band. No significant interference was detected.

Discussion – G.Balodis, D.Dravins.

8. Contacts with universities:

A.BALKLAVS (IA) – cooperation with the University of Latvia. There are 6 scientific projects at IA – 3 from them are connected with VIRAC. It is possible to train the staff for VIRAC at the University of Latvia.

Discussion: V.Slysh, R.Booth, I.Vilks.

G.BALODIS – there are two branches connected with radioastronomy – radioelectronics and computing technologies. Unfortunately, radioastronomy is not very popular with students because of low salaries in science.

A.SALITIS (DPU) – DPU trains teachers in different branches, including physics, mathematics, computer science and astronomy. They hope to have a couple of students in the next one – two years.

Discussion – R.Booth.

9. Contacts with amateur astronomers, and with the general public

M.GILLS (IA) – gives an overview of activities of amateur astronomers in Latvia. Most interests of amateurs are in optical astronomy.

A.KRONS (VIRAC) – about contacts with the general public. People do not have very good information about astronomy and its significance. For example, visitors are asking questions about economical usefulness of astronomy, about UFOs, and only then about science. Despite of this, interest about VIRAC is great. VIRAC has about three – four big groups each month and a lot of single visitors.

17.30 – Closing of first session.

June 16, mid-day:

Visit of the VIRAC antenna site at Irbene, with demonstration of the antenna capabilities, and of the GPS site (M.Abele, D.Bezrukov, J.Kaminskis, G.Ozolins, A.Pavenis, G.Rakitko, Z.Sika, I.Vilks, J.Zagars)

Second session, June 16, 16.15

Ventspils College.

AGENDA (main topics)

1.Welcome, and information about Ventspils College

2. VIRAC: Future plans and possibilities:

2.1. The beginning of geophysical studies at the VIRAC site in Irbene

2.2. Low-frequency interferometry (327 MHz): VLBI research for solar studies, and as a precursor for space VLBI with RADIOASTRON

2.3. Astrophysical cm-wave interferometry between VIRAC and the 64-m antenna at Kalyazin, Russia; perspectives for RADIOASTRON; association with JIVE.

3. VIRAC: Possible future scientific programs:

3.1. Clusters of galaxies, and cosmology

3.2. Complex investigations of protoplanetary nebulae: results, problems, future prospects

3.3. Molecules: OH-masers, recombination lines, and others

3.4. Other projects

* Coffee break

4. Relevant astronomy, geodesy, and radio engineering projects at various institutes: Tartu Observatory, Onsala Space Observatory, Moscow, etc.

5. Possibilities for remote sensing, and the future of the 16-m antenna

6. Future grant applications and international programs; The Swedish "Visby Programme"; possible Nordic - Baltic Summer School in Radio Astronomy; EU programs, etc.

7. Activities of the VIRAC - Conclusions by the Latvian state representative on the VIRAC Board

8. Conclusions, and recommendations for priorities in future activities.

9. Election of future chairperson and scientific secretary.

1.Welcome, and information about Ventspils College

F.REKNERS (VC) – welcomes the participants, gives some information about VC and possible future cooperation.

2. VIRAC: Future plans and possibilities:

2.1. The beginning of geophysical studies at the VIRAC site in Irbene

J.ZAGARS (IA,VIRAC) – the beginning of geophysical studies at the VIRAC site in Irbene, characterization of the current situation of geophysical research in Latvia, and the significance of the Irbene GPS and gravimetrical site in this context. After establishment of this site, the first sessions of GPS and gravimetrical measurements have been carried out and first results provided. The Irbene site is very important to form the network for investigating the geoid in Latvia.

Discussion – J.Freimanis. I.Vilks, D.Dravins.

2.2. Low-frequency interferometry (327 MHz): VLBI research for solar studies, and as a precursor for space VLBI with RADIOASTRON

B.RYABOV (VIRAC)– about current situation with investigations of the solar corona by the greatest radiotelescopes, and possible solar radioobservations with RT-32.

Questions were posed by I.Vilks, D.Dravins.

I.SHMELD – about possible VLBI observations in the wavelength range of 92 cm, and his experience during the VLBI session in Puschino Radioastronomical station. The list of equipment necessary to participate is known, but very little of it is available today.

Discussion – G.Balodis, R.Booth, V.Slysh.

Coffee break – 17.15-17.40.

2.3. Astrophysical cm-wave interferometry between VIRAC and the 64-m antenna at Kalyazin, Russia; perspectives for RADIOASTRON; association with JIVE.

R.BOOTH (OSO)– about current development in VLBI research and possible VLBI observations in Ventspils, particularly at 2.9 cm.

V.SLYSH (ASC), B. POPERECHENKO (MPEI) – about the project of interferometry between Irbene–Kalyazin. If the project will be successful, the observations would be possible at 92, 18, 6, and 1.3 cm bands. They support the idea that it is necessary to participate in VLBI to develop a strong cooperation with the international scientific community. Observations at 18 cm would be good to start with.

Discussion by A.Silins, G.Ozolins, I.Vilks

3. VIRAC: Possible future scientific programs:

3.1. Clusters of galaxies, and cosmology

K.BERZINS – about theoretical researches in the field of cosmology at VIRAC.

Questions – V.Slysh, B.Ryabov.

3.2. Complex investigations of protoplanetary nebulae: results, problems, future prospects

L.ZACS – about protoplanetary nebulae and their possible radio observations. OH masers would be good for this purpose.

A question was posed by D.Dravins.

3.3 Molecules: OH-masers, recombination lines, and others

I.SHMELD – about possible observations in radiolines. Recalled the previous proposal of investigating OH masers, and proposed observations of recombination lines.

Discussion – V.Slysh.

4. Relevant astronomy, geodesy, and radio engineering projects at various institutes

L.LEEDJARV (TO) – gives regards from director of the Tartu Observatory T.Viik. In Tartu Observatory, the main branch of investigation is in optical astronomy, but possible future interest in radioastronomy is not excluded. The cosmology may be a good reason for that. One of the possible modes on cooperation may be attending summer schools in astronomy.

Questions were posed by V.Slysh, R.Booth, I.Vilks.

V.SLYSH – about some future Russian projects in millimeter radio astronomy.

5. Possibilities for remote sensing, and the future of the 16-m antenna

J.ZAGARS – about possible use of RT-16. It is important to have an applied task for this radiotelescope. One possibility is remote sensing.

Discussion – D.Dravins, I.Vilks, R.Booth.

6. Future grant applications and international programs; The Swedish "Visby Programme"; possible Nordic - Baltic Summer School in Radio Astronomy; EU programs, etc.

D.DRAVINS – about the "Visby Programme", possible Nordic-Baltic summer school in radio astronomy in Irbene in the year 2000.

7. Activities of the VIRAC - Conclusions by the Latvian state representative on the VIRAC Board

A.SILINS (LAS) – management of the VIRAC is good, the main problem is to atract investments.

Question – V.Slysh.

8. Conclusions, and recommendations for priorities in future activities.

The VIRAC Scientific Advisory Council unanimously adopted the following recommendations for the near future:

1. The SAC congratulates the VIRAC staff and collaborators for successfully implementing the first phase of the pointing and tracking system of the 32m antenna. For the further characterization of the antenna pointing properties, the existing 12 GHz receiver could be used, observing methanol maser sources.

2. The top scientific priority is to achieve two-element interferometry. In particular, the SAC fully supports the plan for linking VIRAC with the 64-meter antenna at Kalyazin.

3. To prepare for possible future low-frequency interferometry the technical feasibility for the use of the 32-m antenna should be investigated.

4. It remains of high priority to improve the infrastructure at the antenna site, i.e. to assure acceptable living and working conditions for scientists, engineers, and other staff at Irbene.

5. The VIRAC SAC supports the idea of a Nordic-Baltic Summer School in radio astronomy and associated topics, to be held in the year 2000.

9. Election of future chairperson and scientific secretary.

D.Dravins was elected as chairperson, and J.Zagars as scientific secretary – both until the end of February, year 2001.

20.45. - close of meeting

Chairman D.Dravins

Secretaries I.Shmeld, I.Kaulina

The minutes checked L.Zacs, K.Berzin

VIRAC SAC meeting June 15-16, 1998

SECOND ANNOUNCEMENT:

Ventspils International Radio Astronomy Center - VIRAC
Scientific Advisory Council - SAC
Second Meeting, June 15-16, 1998, Riga and Ventspils, Latvia

TIME:

The Second Meeting of the VIRAC SAC will be held on Monday and Tuesday, June 15 and 16, 1998, as stated already in the First Announcement some months ago.An invitation to attend is herewith being extended not only to the individuals formally representing the collaborating organizations in Latvia, Sweden, and Russia, but also to other scientists, at other institutes, who might have a potential interest in any VIRAC-related activities.

PRELIMINARY PROGRAM

Monday June 15, 14:00-18:00: VIRAC SAC First session
(Latvian Academy of Sciences, Akademijas Laukums 1, LV-1050 RIGA)

VIRAC: Past and present achievements:

General history and development 1993-1998 (E.Bervalds)
The 32-meter antenna: technical properties (G.Balodis)
Pointing and tracking: encoders & electronics (M.Abele)
Optical guiding (I.Vilks)
First observations of astronomical sources (G.Ozolins)
Radio noise background at the VIRAC site (G.Ozolins)
GPS receivers at the VIRAC site and elsewhere (J.Zagars)
Contacts with universities (A.Balklavs; G.Balodis; I.Vilks; A.Salitis, to be confirmed)
Contacts with the general public (A.Krons)

Monday June 15, 19:00-21:00 Joint dinner at a restaurant in Riga

Tuesday June 16

08:30-11:30 Transportation by car or minibus from
Riga to the VIRACantenna site at Irbene (200 km; coffee break en route)

11:45-12:30 Lunch at Liepene (17 km from the antennas)
13:00-14:30 Visit of the site, with demonstration of antenna capabilities (M.Abele; D.Bezrukov; G.Ozolins; Z.Sika)
14:30-15:00 Transportation from the antenna site to the city of Ventspils (25 km)
15:30-18:00: VIRAC SAC Second session (Ventspils College, Inzenieru iela 10, LV-3600 VENTSPILS)

VIRAC: Future plans and possibilities:

Single-dish observations (tbd)
Low-frequency interferometry (327 MHz): VLBI research for solar studies, and as a precursor for space VLBI with RADIOASTRON: (A.Benz, tbc; B.Ryabov; I.Molotov, tbc)
Astrophysical cm-wave interferometry between VIRAC and the 64-m antenna at Kalyazin, Russia; perspectives for RADIOASTRON; association with JIVE. (R.Booth; N.Kardashev, tbc; V.Slysh)
VIRAC: Possible future scientific programs (K.Berzins; R.Booth; I.Shmeld; L.Zacs; J.Zagars)
Prospects for the 16-m antenna, and possibilities for remote sensing(J.Zagars)
Relevant astronomy, geodesy, and radio engineering projects at various institutes of the participants (Riga, Daugavpils, Tartu, Vilnius, Onsala, Moscow, etc.; tbc)
Future grant applications and international programs (The Swedish "Visby Programme"; possible Nordic-Baltic Summer School in Radio Astronomy; different EU programs, etc.) (R.Booth; D.Dravins; I.Vilks)
Activities of the VIRAC - Conclusions by the Latvian Government representative on the VIRAC board (A.Silins)
Recommendations for future activities.

Close of meeting.

Tuesday June 16, 18:30: Transportation to either hotels in Ventspils
or, if required, return to Riga.

Wednesday June 17, 09:00-12:00: VIRAC SAC "informal session"
Sightseeing in city of Ventspils.
Excursion with boat on Venta river and in Ventspils harbor.
Lunch in Ventspils.
Transportation to Riga in the afternoon, arriving to airport, railway,
and bus stations no later than 17:00.

GENERAL VIRAC INFORMATION
(including minutes from the previous SAC meeting) is available at http://www.astr.lu.lv/VIRAC/virac.htm

TRAVEL INFORMATION
For general travel information on Riga and Latvia, the probably most up-to-date guide is "Riga in Your Pocket", at: http://www.inyourpocket.com/rihome.htm#gotobar although (especially regarding transportation schedules), we strongly recommend you to check with your travel agent.

IMPORTANT: Hotel and flight bookings should be made VERY SOON since our meeting occurs during the Riga Opera Festival: a number of centrally located hotels are already fully booked for that period. Although VIRAC’s financial situation does not permit to cover any of your travel expenditures, we will be pleased to help with your travel arrangements, such as hotel bookings.

We will be most pleased to see you at this meeting. However, to assist us in the planning, we would kindly request you to indicate as soon as possible (e.g. by e-mail to dainis@astro.lu.se ), whether you plan to attend, whether you will need assistance with some travel arrangements, and also whether you will be unable to come.

Thank you very much!!

Looking forward to seeing you in June,
Lund and Riga, April 26, 1998

Dainis Dravins, VIRAC SAC chairperson
Lund Observatory, Box 43, SE-22100 Lund, Sweden
e-mail: dainis@astro.lu.se

Juris Zagars, VIRAC SAC scientific secretary
Institute of Astronomy, Raina Bulvaris 19, LV-1586 Riga, Latvia
e-mail: yzh@acad.latnet.lv