Proposing
ALMA Cycle 10 Call for Proposals is now open
The ALMA Cycle 10 is scheduled for observations from October 2023 to September 2024. Users of any nationality or affiliation are invited to submit proposals before the deadline.The Cycle 10 proposal submission deadline is 15:00 UT on Wednesday, 10 May 2023.
For Cycle 10, the JAO anticipates having 4300 hours of approved science time on each of the 12-m, 7-m, and the Total Power arrays. Together, the 7-m Array and Total Power Array form the Atacama Compact Array (ACA), also known as the Morita Array. Projects with observations in the highest-frequency Bands 8, 9, and 10 are strongly encouraged.
Cycle 10 will not include a Supplemental CfP for stand-alone ACA observations. The community is encouraged to submit ACA standalone projects, especially in the LST range of 20h to 10h, for the May 2023 deadline.
Find more details here.
| Date | Milestone |
| 12 April 2023 (15:00 UT) | Release of Cycle 10 CfP, Observing Tool, and supporting documents, and opening of the Archive for proposal submission |
| 10 May 2023 (15:00 UT) | Proposal submission deadline for Cycle 10 proposals |
| 28 June 2023 (15:00 UT) | Deadline to submit reviews for the distributed peer review system |
| August 2023 | Announcement of the outcome of the proposal review process |
| 1 October 2023 | Start of ALMA Cycle 10 science observations (anticipated) |
| 30 September 2024 | End of ALMA Cycle 10 |
ALMA provides continuum and spectral-line capabilities for wavelengths from 0.32 mm to 8.5 mm, and angular resolutions from 0.0088′′ to 8.5′′ on the 12-m Array.
In Cycle 10, the following configuration and observing band combinations will be offered for the 12-m Array: configurations C-1 through C-8 for Bands 3 through 10. These combinations will provide angular resolutions as fine as 0.011′′ .
Band 1 observations are expected to start in March 2024 and will be available in configurations C-1 through C-6.
Cycle 10 will bring several new observational capabilities to ALMA, including Band 1 observations with the 12-m Array, spectral scans including Total Power observations, 4x4 bit spectral modes, Solar observations with full-polarization in Band 3, and expanded VLBI and Phased array capabilities. Proposals with observations in the highest-frequency Bands 8, 9, and 10 are strongly encouraged.
New in Cycle 10
The following technical capabilities will be available this Cycle for the first time:
- Band 1 on the 12-m Array. Observations will be available for Stokes I only (no Stokes Q/U/V) and are anticipated to be available from March 2024. Band 1 will not be available in configurations C-7 and C-8.
- Spectral scans that include Total Power observations.
- 4x4-bit spectral mode for improved sensitivity on the 12-m Array (dual polarization). 4x4 mode significantly reduces the time required for specific spectral-line observations. However, 4x4 mode is not recommended for continuum observations because it reduces the available bandwidth, compared to the standard 2x2 bit mode.
- Solar observations in full polarization in Band 3 using only the 12-m Array.
- Phased array mode in Bands 1, 3, 6 and 7. The total time available for this mode will be limited to 50 hours.
- Continuum and spectral line VLBI in Bands 1, 3, 6 and 7, including flexible tuning.
Updates to the Proposal Review Process
- All proposal requesting less than 50 hours on the 12-m Array, and ACA stand-alone proposals requesting less than 150 hours on the 7-m Array, will be reviewed through the distributed peer review system.
- Large Programs will be reviewed by a panel of experts.
- All Cycle 10 proposals will be reviewed through a dual-anonymous procedure.