ALMA development roadmap for the next decade

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The ALMA Board approved the ALMA Development Roadmap for the next decade. The current development priorities as based on scientific merit and technical feasibility, are:

  • to broaden the receiver IF bandwidth by at least a factor two, and
  • to upgrade the associated electronics and correlator.

These developments will advance a wide range of scientific studies by significantly reducing the time required for blind redshift surveys, spectral scans, and deep continuum surveys. In order of scientific priority, receiver upgrades are recommended for intermediate (200-425 GHz), low (< 200 GHz), and high (> 425 GHz) frequencies. The Board acknowledges that there are other potential development areas for the future for which the science cases and technical feasibility need to be further demonstrated.

A document summarizing the development priorities for the Observatory out to 2030 is presented here:

https://www.almaobservatory.org/en/announcement/alma-sets-development-objectives-for-the-next-decade

You can directly access the PDF document at alma-development-roadmap.pdf.

Picture: ALMA 7-metre antenna on a transporter. Credit: ESO