ALMA: status, science capabilities and the path towards science operations

Principal contact: Bruno Leibundgut (bleibundgut@eso.org )

The Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) has been designed and is being built to allow us to study in detail the formation of stars and panetary systems in the solar neighborhood, the evolution of the insterstellar medium of galaxies in the Universe and to provide images at millimeter wavelengths with angular resolution and fidelity similar or better than the current generation of space observatories and AO-fed large optical/infrared telescopes.

ALMA is a global partnership between Europe, North America and East Asia to build the world leading observatory at millimeter wavelengths in the coming decades. ESO is leading the European effort in this project. Talks in this session will describe the scientific goals and capabilities of ALMA, the current status of the construction and the plans for Early Science and Full Science operations, including status and plans for the UK node of the European ALMA Regional Centre.

Scientific Programme

Tuesday 21st April
11:00	ALMA Project: Science and Status	Robert Laing
11:40	ALMA Science Operations	Paola Andreani
12:20	ALMA Regional Support Centre	Tom Muxlow