Individual Reports:

Richard Hills began (from an airfone) with a report on the efforts in Europe to join with the MMA project. There is apparently a strong effort to get all the major players aboard. The UK has a major infusion of new money, equivalent to about $500M, for "infrastructure" in the basic sciences. It seems

likely that some of this will go toward the UK's involvement in the LMA (Large Millimeter Array, as the MMA/LSA has apparently evolved to) project. Ewine van Dischoeck reported that ESO officials are busy drawing up Memoranda of Agreements between member countries. They would like to have these signed within a few weeks, but certainly before the end of the year. Holland has in addition about

f4M guilders to contribute to the project. Al Wootten reported on a meeting he attended in Edinburgh at

which the UK participation in the LMA was discussed. There is a lot of excitement being generated by the prospect of this collaboration. In particular, it has become clear that the universe is dominated by IR emission and that the LMA will be the main facility that can contribute to our knowledge in this area.

November MAC Agenda:

Most of our time was spent discussing the agenda for the Nov. MAC meeting which will be at the O'Hare Hilton on Nov. 21st. The general consensus was that the meeting should center around the

science drivers for the array. Some areas are progressing so rapidly that even the last working group reports have not adequately covered them such as the search for extrasolar planets and the IR universe.

It was also suggested that we should be made aware of the design specs that are causing problems so that we could revisit the science drivers for these particular specs. These might include the need for fast switching, the need for nutating subreflectors, the required accuracy of phase and amplitude calibration, correlator design requirements, etc.

Another issue is the role of the MAC when the project becomes an international collaboration. Should it remain advisory to Paul and NRAO? or Should it become advisory to the project with European and US representatives? Also, we need to discuss representation from MDC institutions as many folks from these key institutions feel that they have no voice in the project.

Some discussion was given to the development of two prototype antennae. Peter Napier explained that the competing prototype designs will be developed by contractors not consortium members. The criteria for choosing one design over another was not discussed.

Antennae:

The size of the antennae is still not settled. Both the Europeans and the US have appointed, or will appoint, a separate committee to consider the relative merits of 10m vs 12m antennae for a fixed collecting area (7000 square meters is the goal). The US committee will consist of Jack Welch, Brian Butler, Al Wootten, Dave Woody, John Carlstrom, and Ed Churchwell.

Check the project book for new developments.

I look forward to seeing everyone on Nov. 21st.

Ed