BoloChkList

MAMBO2/ABBA2 Checklist

This document describe the checks and test that must be done before and during the Bolometer pool, as well as the frequency needed for these tests. (Maintained by GQ.)

The tests are divided into different groups, as they supposed to be carried by different groups of the IRAM staff (operators, AoDs, or Rxs)

AOD CHECKLIST

• Teach the observers on the general aspects of the observation even the expert MAMBO observers (weekly):

  • CookbookPako.

  • When to switch to heterodyne
  • What is a spiky scan
  • Not to open a second monitor at flexible@mrt-lx3:monitor/

• Do a backup of the DAFS (daily): GQ woking with RZ in a tool to do it automatically

• Observations on absorber (AbsorberObs, at least once per week!)

  • Do when the weather is too bad even for heterodyne observations.
  • Do if the scans are too spiky

• Check the cable connections of ABBA (weekly, or if ABBA does not react)

Some notes on Operator duties

• Check the bolometer temperature
• Check that the paddle motor works.

• Fill the bolometer: https://gra-lx1.iram.es/mainWiki/BolometerCooldownInstructions

Remember to remove the cable from the box when He3 is recycled manually

Some notes on receiver engineer duties

• Check the resistance
• Check battery voltage
• Check the Bias voltage

• Check the blank/sync Signal at ABBA with an oscilloscope. (During tests, and/or if strong spikes appear)

• Check the analog signals after the preamplifier while covering the entrance window with a metal plate. (During tests, and/or if strong spikes appear)

USEFUL DOCUMENTATION

• ABBA short description: abba2_short_description.pdf

• ABBA cable conections: abba2.png

PROBLEMS AND SOLUTIONS

This is a quick guide through normal problems that appeared in the past and the possible reasons and solutions.

• PROBLEM	REASON	SOLUTION
  Bololog is not updated	goPool has not been sent	Ask the operator to do so
  Mopsic Monitor is not working	There is other monitor running and the DAFS files have been corrupted	Stop the second monitor and recreate the DAFS
  ABBA does not start getting data	Wobbler is not wobbling	Ask the operator
  ABBA does not start getting data	Wobbler works fine but the signal did not reach ABBA	Check the cable connections with ABBA
  The skydip results are abnormally high	The paddle is put in from of the beam	Ask the operator to try it by hand or contact the Rx people