Differences between revisions 201 and 202

Please find the results of the preliminary data reduction at this link.

Contents

NIKA2 Re-Commissioning: NIKA2 run 80, Cryo run 92

NIKA2 Re-Commissioning: NIKA2 run 80, Cryo run 92

Observers on-site: Miren Muñoz, Mairi Nonhebel, Kaiyi Du, Stefano Berta, Ioannis Myserlis (remote), Angel Bongiovanni

Operators: Mario Cervera (day), Sergio Amaya (night)

Organization of shifts:
23:00-05:00 LT: Stefano + Kaiyi
05:00-11:00 LT: Mairi + all
11:00:17:00 LT: Angel + all
17:00-23:00 LT: Miren + Kaiyi + all

Initialization files:
run91*.ini (previous sweep)
run92*.ini (new sweep)

Tables (from 2026/03/24 ~15:00 LT to 2025/03/31 ~10:30:00 LT)

Focus sequences
Scan nr	Target	Ar2	Ar1	Ar3	Polarized?	Notes
20260324s153-157	Uranus	0.27	1.25	1.2	no	Started at 1.0 mm; tadadada; Ar2 good fit; Ar1 and Ar3 fit is marginal
158-162	Uranus	out	1.3	1.25	no	Started at 1.5 mm; Ar1 perfect fit; Ar2 out of range
163-167	Uranus	0.28	out	out	no	Started at 0.5 mm; Ar2 perfect fit; Ar1 out of range
171-175	Uranus	out	1.22	1.18	no	started at 1.5 mm; Ar1 perfect fit; Ar2 out of range
206-210	0851+202	out	1.36	1.31	no	Started at 1.4 mm; Ar1 and Ar3 perfect fit; Ar2 out of range
20260325s20-24	3C273	out	1.46	1.43	yes	Started at 1.5 mm; Ar2 out of range
s70-74	3C345	0.74	1.5	1.44	yes	Started at 1.5mm; Ar2 using fwhm only
s91-95	3C454.3	out	1.15	1.15	yes	Started at 1.5mm
s123-127	3C84	out	0.75	0.73	yes	Started at 1.mm
s134-138	3C84	out	0.5	0.49	yes	Started at 0.6mm; Ar1&3 beams distorting.
135-139	3C84		0.5		no	started at 0.6 mm
148-152	Mercury	-0.8	0.23	bad	0.18	Started at 0.6 mm; Ar2 marginal and based on FWHM only; Ar3 based on flux only
160-164	SMA_0348-278	out	out	out	no	started at 0.3
165-169	SMA_0348-278	-0.55	out	out	no	started at 0.0 mm; Ar2 perfect fit -> adding 1.0mm for the Ar1 focus, fullstop
191-195	Uranus	0.03	1.14	1.16	no	started at 0.5 mm, Ar1 and Ar3 based on flux only
196-200	Uranus	out	0.92	0.91	no	started at 1.14 mm
203-207	Uranus	0.16	1.21	1.19	no	started at 1.1 mm
232-236	3C273	out	1.35	1.30	no	started at 1.4 mm
237-241	3C273	0.40	out	out	no	started at 0.4 to pinpoint Ar2; Ar2 based on fluxes only
20260326s1-5	3C273	0.67	1.74	1.74	no	Started at 1.3 mm; Ar1 and Ar3 FWHM only (re-do)
6-10	3C273	out	1.57	1.54	no	Started at 1.8 mm
27-31	3C273	out	1.64	1.60	yes	Started at 1.8 mm
45-49	1741-038	out	1.48	1.45	yes	Started at 1.6mm
63-67	3C454.3	0.81	1.72	1.68	yes	Started at 1.6mm, Ar2 based on FWHM only
84-88	3C454.3	0.67	1.44	1.43	yes	Started at 1.6mm, Ar2 based on FHWM only
118-122	3C84	0.39	1.1	1.08	yes	Started at 1.3mm, Ar2 based on FHWM only
130-134	3C84	0.24	1.21	1.15	yes	Started at 1.mm, Ar2 based on FHWM only
149-53	Uranus	out	1.02	1.	yes	Started at 1.2mm
166-170	Uranus	0.05	1.1	1.1	yes	started at 1 mm, Ar2 based on FHWM only
183-187	3C84	0.4	1.41	1.39	no	started at 1.1 mm, Ar2 based on FHWM only
194-198	3C84	out	1.21	1.2	no	started at 1.4 mm, Ar2 based on FHWM only
218-222	3c273	0.8	1.77	1.72	no	started at 1.6mm, Ar2 based on FHWM only
20260327s3-7	3C273	0.89	1.81	1.78	no	Started at 1.6 mm; all there Ar123 FWHM only
199-203	3C454.3	0.75	1.88	1.85	yes	Started at 1.6mm
208-212	3C345	0.73	1.5	1.46	yes	Started at 1.6mm, Ar2 based on FWHM only
223-227	3C345	0.29	1.03	0.95	yes	Started at 1.5mm, Ar2 based on FWHM only
241-245	3C454.3	0.07	1.13	1.06	yes	Started at 1.mm, Ar2 based on FHWM only
261-265	Uranus	out	0.75	0.74	yes	Started at 1.mm, Ar2 based on FHWM only
279-283	Uranus	out	1.03	1.04	no	Started at 1 mm
296-300	0736+017	0.32	~1.40	1.35	no	Started at 1 mm; Ar2 correction not clear
301-305	0736+017	out	1.33	1.3	no	Started at 1.4 mm
313-317	3C273	out	1.37	1.33	no	started at 1.5 mm
320-324	3C273	out	1.44	1.43	no	started at 1.5 mm
327-331	3C273	0.51	out	out	no	started at 0.5 mm
20260328s3-7	3C273	out	1.51	1.48	no	started at 1.5 mm
46-50	MW349	0.62	1.4	1.35	yes	started at 1.5mm; Ar2 based on FWHM only
66-70	3C454.3	1.58	1.48	1.4	yes	started at 1.5mm; Ar2 based on FWHM only
84-88	3C454.3	0.5	1.36	1.33	yes	started at 1.5mm; Ar2 based on FWHM only

Beam maps (99 sub-scans)
Scan Nr	Target	Focus	Notes
20260324s169	Uranus	1.30	Focus optimized for Ar1
20260324s177	Uranus	1.22	Focus optimized for Ar1
20260327s319	3C273	1.37	Focus optimized for Ar1
20260327s326	3C273	1.43	Focus optimized for Ar3, and also Ar1
20270328s2	3C273	0.51	Focus optimized for Ar2

Polarization beam maps (95 sub-scans)
Scan Nr	Target	Focus	Notes

Calibrators (calib_1scan)
Scan Nr	Target	Focus	Notes
20260324s170	Uranus	1.3	TP, Focus optimized for Ar1
178	Uranus	1.22	TP, Focus optimized for Ar1
182	Betelgeuse	1.22	TP, Focus optimized for Ar1
20260325s25	3C273	1.46	Pol, focus optimized for Ar1&3
64	MWC349	1.46	Pol, focus optimized for Ar1&3
65	NGC7027	1.46	Pol, focus optimized for Ar1&3
66	CRL2688	1.46	Pol, focus optimized for Ar1&3
75	3C345	1.5	Pol, focus optimized for Ar1&3
86	3C345	1.5	Pol, focus optimized for Ar1&3
88	Mars	1.5	Pol, focus optimized for Ar1&3
96	3C454.3	1.15	Pol, focus optimized for Ar1&3
99	Mars	1.15	Pol, focus optimized for Ar1&3
114	Mars	1.15	Pol, focus optimized for Ar1&3
116	Mercury	1.15	Pol, focus optimized for Ar1&3
128	3C84	0.75	Pol, focus optimized for Ar1&3
129	Uranus	0.75	Pol, focus optimized for Ar1&3; timelines incomplete; repeating
131	Uranus	0.75	Pol, focus optimized for Ar1&3; Ar1&3 beams a bit enhanced
142	MWC349	0.5	TP, focus optimized for Ar1&3
143	NGC7027	0.5	TP, focus optimized for Ar1&3
144	CRL2688	0.5	TP, focus optimized for Ar1&3
209	Uranus	1.21	TP, focus optimized for Ar1&3
20260326s34	3C273	1.64	Pol, focus optimized for Ar1&3
42	3C286	1.64	Pol, focus optimized for Ar1&3
52	3C286	1.48	Pol, focus optimized for Ar1&3
62	3C454.3	1.48	Pol, focus optimized for Ar1&3
68	3C454.3	1.72	Pol, focus optimized for Ar1&3
69	Mars	1.72	Pol, focus optimized for Ar1&3
72	3C345	1.72	Pol, focus optimized for Ar1&3
83	3C454.3	1.72	Pol, focus optimized for Ar1&3
105	3C454.3	1.44	Pol, focus optimized for Ar1&3
106	Mars	1.44	Pol, focus optimized for Ar1&3
109	MWC349	1.44	Pol, focus optimized for Ar1&3
110	NGC7027	1.44	Pol, focus optimized for Ar1&3
111	CRL2688	1.44	Pol, focus optimized for Ar1&3
115	3C84	1.44	Pol, focus optimized for Ar1&3;
116	Uranus	1.44	Pol, focus optimized for Ar1&3
123	Uranus	1.1	Pol, focus optimized for Ar1&3
125	3C84	1.1	Pol, focus optimized for Ar1&3;
148	Uranus	1.21	Pol, focus optimized for Ar1&3
154	Uranus	1.02	Pol, focus optimized for Ar1&3
165	Uranus	1.02	Pol, focus optimized for Ar1&3
171	Uranus	1.1	Pol, focus optimized for Ar1&3
172	Uranus	1.1	Pol, focus optimized for Ar1&3
177	Uranus	1.1	TP, focus optimized for Ar1&3
180	Alfori	1.1	TP, focus optimized for Ar1&3
20260327s204	3C454.3	1.88	Pol, focus optimized for Ar1&3
205	Mars	1.88	Pol, focus optimized for Ar1&3
207	3C345	1.88	Pol, focus optimized for Ar1&3
213	3C345	1.5	Pol, focus optimized for Ar1&3
222	3C345	1.5	Pol, focus optimized for Ar1&3
231	CRL2688	1.05	Pol, focus optimized for Ar1&3
232	NGC7027	1.05	Pol, focus optimized for Ar1&3
237	MWC349	1.05	Pol, focus optimized for Ar1&3
246	3C454.3	1.13	Pol, focus optimized for Ar1&3
267	Uranus	0.75	Pol, focus optimized for Ar1&3
278	Uranus	0.75	Pol, focus optimized for Ar1&3
284	Uranus	1.04	TP, focus optimized for Ar1&3
287	Alfori	1.04	TP, focus optimized for Ar1&3
20260328s24	3C273	1.51	Pol, focus optimized for Ar1&3
25	3C279	1.51	Pol, focus optimized for Ar1&3
42	3C279	1.51	Pol, focus optimized for Ar1&3
43	3C273	1.51	Pol, focus optimized for Ar1&3
51	MWC349	1.4	Pol, focus optimized for Ar1&3
52	NGC7027	1.4	Pol, focus optimized for Ar1&3
53	CRL2688	1.4	Pol, focus optimized for Ar1&3
56	3C286	1.4	Pol, focus optimized for Ar1&3
65	3C454.3	1.4	Pol, focus optimized for Ar1&3
71	3C454.3	1.48	Pol, focus optimized for Ar1&3
80	Mars	1.48	Pol, focus optimized for Ar1&3
83	3C454.3	1.48	Pol, focus optimized for Ar1&3
89	3C454.3	1.36	Pol, focus optimized for Ar1&3
100	3C454.3	1.36	Pol, focus optimized for Ar1&3

Preliminary plan

We wish to do the following:

OK start in total power: point, focus (!), point
OK analyze focus difference between Ar1 and Ar2
OK calib_1scan, beam maps (at least 2)
OK analyze (preliminary) beam maps and produce DAFs RPPs for the new Ar3. Install the new RPPs for Ar3
OK analyze the focus difference between Ar1 and Ar3
OK perform many focus sequences to have some statistics
polarimetry beam maps
OK more total power beam maps
out of focus total power beam maps
OK total power deep field (HLS 091828), to derive the new, final NEFD of NIKA2 TP -> 4.2h on 2026/03/24
OK polarimetry deep field (3C286), to derive the new IQU NEFD of NIKA2-Pol -> 3.7h on 2026/03/25
OK 084-25 polarimetry
OK 140-25, 146-25 polarimetry
NO 196-25 total power -> too close to the Sun
OK test long subscans with our favorite, total power, 100 arcsec/s
C/2025 R3 Panstarrs, polarimetry
deep field 03h32m31.75s −27d46m51.5s, total power, 14x14 arcmin2, 100 arcsec/s
test Sgr A* polarimetry scan strategy
... other wishes ...

Tuesday, 24th March 2026

The team arrives safely to the observatory we are all thrilled and super excited to test and use the new NIKA2++!

During maintenance, the new make-imbf is transformed into the default one. From now on we will use only the new make-imbf and the old one will be kept inactive. We verify that the directory where the make-imbf wrote is now the "production" directory and that users can read its content. We also run the PIIC QL manually on a couple of old scans, of which William newly produces the files using the new make-imbf and writing them here. The QL reads and processes these scans regurlarly. Well done!

We take over after maintenance at 14:45 UT. All is ready. We start with total power (TP). And we stop at scan nr zero, because we are in the clouds and the humidity is at 100%. The rain alarm rings loud!

Progress of the day (whole team together) and night (Stefano and Kaiyi):

@17:45 UT we start!!! Total power, KIDs lost 17/8/14 (Ar3 without counting Box S)
Uranus... the moment of reckoning... pointing... both Ar2 and Ar1 are out of focus, which is promising! ... focus ... the focus difference Ar1-Ar2 is +1.0 mm.
two beam-maps on Uranus, focused on Ar1 (scans 169 and 177)
calib_1scan (170, 178, 182)
deep field (TP) on HLS091828: 12 repetitions (1 rep = 4 scans of 4 minutes each - actually it takes roughly 5.25 minutes per scan)
@00:40 UT the beam maps have been reduced, the Ar3 RPPs are ready and installed.
Now we go back to the focus sequences taken so far and we check the Ar3 focus. We update the Table above consequently.
The focus difference Ar3-Ar1 seems to be roughly -0.05 mm
@01:30 UT we switch to NIKA2-Pol. Lost KIDs 17/7/11 (Ar3 without counting Box S). The 1.5 Hz frequency peak is still there (Ar2, see image below).
the new make-imbf does not produce the files of scan 20260325s18
- explanation by Jean in the morning: This scan does not have a subscanDone syncMsg for subscan 9. Was this scan cancelled by mistake maybe, if not, then there's an NCS-related problem that resulted in an incomplete scan. SB: the scan was not cancelled.
deep field (Pol) on 3C286: 8 repetitions (1 rep = 4 scans of 5.7 minutes each - actually it takes roughly 7 minutes per scan)

Please find the results of the preliminary data redution at this link.

Wednesday, 25th March 2026

04:00-10:00 UT Mairi. This is the progress of the shift:

taking over from Stefano, letting the deep field on 3C286 finish
pointing on 3C286, Ar1 fairly circular so no need for focus
calib_1scan on 3C286
another deep field (pol) on 3C286, again 4 reps
pointing on MWC349
calib1_scan on MWC349, NGC7027, CRL2688 (s64, 65 and 66)
skydip, scan 67
pointing and focus on 3C345
switching to project 084-25, calib_1scan (s75) on 3C345
pointing on 1923+210 near science target
1 repetition on S87IRS1
pointing and calib_1scan (s86) on 3C345
pointing and calib_1scan (s88) on Mars
pointing, focus and then calib_1scan (s96) with new focus on 3C454
pointing and calib_1scan (s99) with new focus on Mars
pointing on 1923+210 near science target
set off repetition of S87IRS1 but cancelled as vertex petals closed
returned to 1923+210 for pointing, cancelled again due to petals closing
successful pointing of 1923+210 with issue seemingly resolved for now, returned to science target for repetition

10:00-16:00 UT; Mairi & Angel + Stefano

Fourth rep. on S87IRS1 successfully finished. Continuing on project 084-24. A couple of scans on IRAS23385 are intended. But problems with 2 petals of the vertex appeared again. Changing to topo high meanwhile.
Focus on 3C84 and calib_1scan maps on Uranus (s129, 129 & 131). From them and following pointing corrections, we got an enhancement of the beam for Ar1: 11.7" x 14.3". Aborting intentions.
Switching to TP, project t22. Bad KIDs (Ar1, 2, 3): 15/1000 5/574 17/749. Focus correction Ar1 even smaller: 0.5 mm. Even so, beam size Ar1 is 11.5" x 14.8".
Getting calib_1scan maps on MWC349, NGC7027 and CRL2688 (s142, 143, 144). El. ~40 deg. and setting. Skydip (scan 145). Mercury (scan ...)
after lunch very hard to focus, it takes almost 2 hours
deep field (JADES-ID1) at low elevation with scan speed 100 arcsec/s; one rep (6 scans, ~10.5 minutes each)

16:00-22:00 UT; Miren + Stefano + Kaiyi

deep field (JADES-ID1) at low elevation with scan speed 100 arcsec/s; one new rep (6 scans, ~10.5 minutes each)
not easy to focus on Uranus, but we end up adopting 1.21 mm (optimised for ar1)
calib1_scan on Uranus (209) and skydip (210)
M8182, M8182a, and M8182b observations, total power, 100 arcsec/s, to be compared to the maps obtained during the previous commissioning runs, since the upgrade of the control system

22:00 - 4:00 UT: Stefano + Kaiyi

@22:30 UT Study of main beam and side lobes for finding a focus compromise (for the distant future, if nobody will manage to fix NIKA2++) on 3C273 (see table here). Note, however that polarimetry observations would at best be carried out at the Ar1+3 optimal focus (rather than at a compromise focus) because of the criticality of the IP correction. These observations and analysis take up to ~00:10 UT
examining the table, we have the suspicion that we might need to newly determine the lateral focus. Any thoughts? AM: I agree. Question: AR3 is as sensitive to Sky fluctuations as AR1? SB: yes, Ar3 seemingly behaves like Ar1. As for the lateral focus, we are considering to delay the operation to Sep-Oct, after the new possible NIKA2 hardware intervention.
we fill the night LST gap with more scans of M8182. tau is growing
tracking errors (at the sub-scans turn over): scan 214 (3x), 216 (1x), 217 (2x), 220 (1x), 224 (1x), 228 (1x), 17 (2x)
@03:15 I switch to polarimetry. KIDs lost 18/5/19 tau(225) stays under 0.3
140-25 First rep of Cloud G launched, using 3C273 and 3C286 to characterize the IP.

Thursday, 26th March 2026

4:00 - 10:00 UT: Mairi

First rep. of Cloud G finished successfully
calib_1scan (s42) on 3C286 for IP
focus on 1741-038
calib_1scan (s52) on 3C286 for IP calibration with new focus
final rep of Cloud G (finished: kept 'on-hold' in the readme file)
calib_1scan (s62) on 3C454.3
switching to 084-35
focus on 3C454.3 and calib1_scan (s68) for IP calibration with new focus
calib_1scan (s69) on Mars
calib_1scan (s72) on 3C345 as closer in elevation to the science target
One rep on S87IRS1 (5th out of 6)
calib_1scan (s83) on 3C454.3
focus on 3C454.3 and calib1_scan (s89) for IP calibration with new focus

10:00 - 16:00 UT: Angel + Stefano

Continuing on S87IRS1. A bunch of homology errors appeared. About 15 min. lost. Fixed by Mario and Ignacio (TG). Resuming science observations.
S87IRS1 required reps. finished. Bracketing them with calib_1scan maps on 3C454.3 and Mars (scans 105 and 106) for IP calibration.
Switching to project t22. Changing to topo high.
calib_scan maps (polarimetry) on MWC349, NGC7027 and CRL2688 (scans 109, 110, 111) + a skydip (scan 112).
calib_1scan maps (polarimetry) on 3C84 and Uranus for IP calibrations (scans 115 and 116).
With Manuel: correcting the pointing model parameters P2, P7; dP2 = -3", dP7 = -6" adopted. Testing: set pointing -4.4 -0.6. Checking with 1928+738: set pointing -1.3 -0.7. OK for us.
Still being in project t22. Sunny afternoon, pretty clear sky, no/mild wind. Opacity ~0.3, with contained oscillations. Peak-to-peak variations of +/-2 Jy/beam in the timelines (2 mm). Checking focus correction/beam shape to decide if continuing on NIKA2-Pol projects.
Coming back to project 084-25. Two repetitions of IRAS23385, using 3C84 and Uranus for the IP. Additional 3C84-Uranus calib_1scan pairs obtained under project t22 (see above).

16:00 - 22:00 UT Miren + Angel + Kaiyi

t22: calib1_scans on Uranus in Pol and Tot. Power + calib1_scan in TP on Alfori.
Deep field (TP) on HLS091828: three repetitions

22:00 - 01:00 UT Kaiyi + Stefano

we continue the TP Deep field on HLS091828: six more repetitions (21 in total)

Friday, 27th March 2026

01:00 - 06:45 UT EHT team

EHT M87* monitoring (movie) campaign

06:45 - 10:00 UT Mairi

starting observations @ 07:00 UT, started polarimetry, bad KIDs 14/9/19
focus and calib_1scan (s204) on 3C454.3
calib_1scan (s205) on Mars
calib_1scan (s206) on 3C345
focus on 3C345 as elongated beam
calib_1scan (s213) on 3C345 to characterise IP with new focus
repetition of G24.78
calib_1scan (s222) of 3C345
switching to t22 to check focus and decide what to do next
calib_1scan maps on secondary flux standards: CRL2688 and NGC7027 (scans 231, 232)

10:00 - 16:00 UT Angel

project t22: calib_1scan on MWC349 (s237) + a skydip (s238)
project 084-25: starting with a fresh focus and calib_1scan on 3C454.3 for IP cal.
084-25 three reps. on IRAS23385, using 3C84 for the IP
@12:45 we stop because of the high wind (too many records lost because of too large tracking deviations). We are now in the wind peak, according to the wind forecast. We wait and we'll test the wind with a short pointing from time to time. The forecast says that the wind will decrease later this afternoon.
@15:30 we resumed observations. Continuing on 084-25. One rep. on IRAS23385. Bracketing with Uranus for IP cal.

16:00 - 22:00 UT Kaiyi + Miren

Move to total power (lost KIDs Ar1: 10, Ar2: 8, Ar3: 18). t22: calib1_scan on Uranus and ALFORI + skydip.
110-25: 2 repetitions on S284-3.
We stopped at 9 UT due to wind. We try to investigate the origin of 1.5 Hz peaks by examining the traces and spectrum
- vertex closed, telescope parked, NIKA2 window open -> no peaks in the spectrum
- vertex closed, telescope parked, NIKA2 window closed -> 2 Hz and harmonics
- SB checkes: cap fixed with 2 screws only, not tightened. Adds other 2 screws and tightens them (by hand). Now peaks at 1Hz and harmonics. Perfect
- wind is down
- we abandon the tests. Better.
- the arm holding M3 was touching the pipes that come from the downstairs pump up to NIKA2
- vertex open, peak at 1.6 Hz is back, but disappears depending on which piece of timeline we examine. WTH is going on?

22:00 - 4:00 UT Stefano + Kaiyi

TP again. LST Gap.
beam maps, 3C273. Three beam maps, each one focused on a different array
- beam map focused on Ar1, scan nr 20260327s319, boxes DNQ are missing maaaany KIDs
- re-boot DAQ. Lost KIDs 25/4/15
- beam map focused on Ar3, scan nr 326. This should be also good for Ar1 because focus Ar3=1.43 and Ar1=1.44
- beam map focused on Ar2, scan nr 20260328s2
M8182 further scans
@03:30 UT we switch to polarimetry. Lost KIDs ...
experiment for GC QU loops preparation: 3x four scans with different duration, from 4 minutes to 1.5 minutes each

Saturday, 28th March 2026