meeting

TIPC Laser Prototype Feasibility Review will be hold on Jan 13-14,2015. Based on the results of the pulsed laser prototype laboratory tests and on the results reported for the on-sky tests, the commitee will review the performance of the TIPC pulsed laser prototype to see if it meets the TMT performance requirements and if TIPC laser is the credible solution for TMT. The detailed objectives include: 1) to understand the design of the laser and overall risks associated with the design; 2) to understand the strength and weakness of the laser for long term operation for an astronomical observatory science program and under the environmental conditions of an astronomical observatory; 3) to review the current and subsequent stages in the development of the TMT laser system including the main tasks to be performed, risks, schedule, and budget; 4) to understand the plan for developing the complete TMT Laser System, and the risks associated with this design.

This meeting is hosted by National Astronomical Observatories and Technological Institute of Physics and Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences.

Review Commitee members:
Jason Chin, W. M. Keck Observatory, Chair
Roger Falcon, Advanced Light Source-Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
Chris Barty, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory
Peter King, LIGO: Caltech
Scott Roberts, TMT Observatory Corp.
Paul Hickson, University Of British Columbia

Observers and participants:
Gary Sanders, TMT
Pavinder Bhatia, TMT
Corinne Boyer, TMT
Brent Ellerbroek, TMT
Angel Otarola, TMT
Wang Lianqi, TMT
Robert Anderson, TMT
Wei Kai, IOE
Wang Pengfei, TIPC
Bo Yong, TIPC
Zuo Junwei, TIPC
Wang Zhichao, TIPC
Xue Suijian, NAOC,
Mao Shude, NAOC
Hu Jingyao, NAOC
Li Zhiping, NAOC
Wang Yiping, NAOC
Shen Zhixia, NAOC
Feng Lu, NAOC
Li YangPeng, NAOC

Agenda:
2015-1-13, Room 402, Building 1#, TIPC
8:30 am Welcome remarks by Prof. Wang Pengfei (DDG of TIPC)
8:35 am Introduction by Dr. Angel Otarolar
8:45 am System Overview by Prof Yong Bo
9:45 am Laser System Performance and Compliance by Dr Junwei Zuo
10:30 am Break
10:45 am Laser System Performance and Compliance by Dr Junwei Zuo
12:00 am Lunch
12:45 pm On Sky Performance by Dr.Lu Feng
1:45 pm System Reliability by Prof Yong Bo/Dr Zhichao Wang
2:45 pm Break
3:00 pm Manufacturing and Packaging by Dr Junwei Zuo/Dr Zhichao Wang
4:00 pm System Performance; Sensitivities by Prof Yong Bo
5:00 pm Compliance wrap up, Prof Yong Bo
5:30 pm Reviewer closed session
6:30 pm Adjourn

2015-1-14, A508, NAOC
8:30 am Follow up from Day 1, reviewers' Q&A session
9:30 am Management budget, Prof Yong Bo
10:00 am Management schedule, Prof Yong Bo
10:30 am Break
10:45 am Management Cost, Prof Yong Bo
11:15 am Operations and Maintenance, Dr Junwei Zuo
11:45 am Risk and mitgation, Prof Yong Bo
12:30 pm Lunch
1:00 pm Methodology, Prof Yong Bo
1:15 pm Final questions and discussion
2:00 pm Reviewer closed session
3:30 pm Reviewer verbal response
4:00 pm End of Review

With the construction to start imminently in October 2014, the Thirty Meter Telescope (TMT) is no longer a distant future. TMT will be one of the most powerful telescopes in the history of astronomy, and it will be one of the greatest astronomical facilities China will possess in the beginning of the 21st century. It will bring unprecedented opportunity to Chinese astronomy. How to achieve scientific and technical readiness for TMT to maximize its impact is a great challenge that the Chinese astronomy community is facing.

We set the theme for this year's KIAA-PKU Astrophysics Forum to discuss the scientific and technological frontiers of the TMT. On the one hand, the conference plans to offer prospects on how Chinese astronomers can make potential breakthroughs in astrophysics frontiers. Participants will discuss how to organically relate their short-term research with the long-term goals relevant to TMT. The conference will cover diverse fields, including cosmology, galaxy formation and evolution, active galactic nuclei and black hole physics, stars and stellar systems, and extrasolar planets. We will also discuss the coordination between TMT and other large astronomical projects in China, in order to maximize their scientific impact and enhance China's capacity in astronomy across the full spectrum. On the other hand, the conference will discuss China's technological involvement in the TMT. Scientists and engineers will meet under the same roof to discuss how to finalize the TMT instrument specifications in order to optimize for the science objectives as well as reach deeper a understanding of the instruments to plan and design better science projects.

We invite broad participation from the entire astronomical community in China.

Website: http://kiaa.pku.edu.cn/astroforum14