IRAM Memo 2009-1 IRAM-30m EMIR time/sensitivity estimator
Keywords: astro-30m-emir-time-estimator

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# IRAM Memo 2009-1
IRAM-30m EMIR time/sensitivity estimator

J. Pety, S. Bardeau, E. Reynier

Feb, 18th 2010
Version 1.1

1. IRAM (Grenoble)

### Abstract:

This memo describes the equations used in the IRAM-30m EMIR time/sensitivity estimator available in the `GILDAS/ASTRO` program. A large part of the memo aims at deriving sensitivity estimate for the case of On-The-Fly observations, which is not clearly documented elsewhere (to our knowledge). Numerical values of the different parameters used in the time/sensitivity estimator are grouped in appendix A.

History:

Version 1.0
  (Feb, 04th 2009).
Version 1.1
  (Feb, 18th 2010) Simplified.

- Contents
- Generalities
  - The radiometer equation
  - System temperature
  - Elapsed telescope time
  - The number of polarizations
  - Switching modes and observation kinds
- Tracked observations
  - Frequency switched
  - Position switched
  - Comparison
- On-The-Fly observations
  - Additional notions and notations
  - Frequency switched
  - Position switched
    - Two key points: 1) Sharing OFF among many ONs and 2) system stability timescale
    - Relation between and
    - Time/Sensitivity estimation
  - Comparison
- Acknowledgement
- Bibliography
- Numerical values
  - Overheads
  - Atmosphere
  - Telescope
  - Frontends
  - Backends
  - On-The-Fly
- Optimal number of ON per OFF measurements
- About this document ...