- Email: [email protected]
The Euro3D research training network
New Astronomy Reviews 50 (2006) 252–258 www.elsevier.com/locate/newastrev
The Euro3D research training network Martin M. Roth Astrophysikalisches Institut Potsdam, An der Sternwarte 16, D-14482 Potsdam, Germany Available online 4 May 2006
Abstract Euro3D ‘‘Promoting Integral Field Spectroscopy in Europe’’ is a research training network, funded by the European Commission under the 5th Framework Programme (FP5), entitled ‘‘Improving the Human Research Potential and the socio-economic Knowledge Base’’, with a contractual duration from July 2002 until December 2005. The objective of RTNs is to promote training-through-research, especially of young researchers in the frame of high quality international collaborative research projects, including those in emerging fields of research. The major goal of the Euro3D effort is to popularize the emerging technique of 3D spectroscopy through a three-fold approach, including high visibility research, development of data analysis tools, and dissemination through workshops, conferences, and outreach activities. Ó 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved. Keywords: 3D Spectroscopy; Young researchers; Training; European commission; FP5
Contents 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6.
Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . Objectives and strategy . . . Network partners . . . . . . . Work plan . . . . . . . . . . . . Selected results . . . . . . . . . Summary and conclusions . Acknowledgement. . . . . . . References . . . . . . . . . . . .
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1. Introduction Integral field (3D) spectroscopy (IFS), the subject of this conference, was introduced as a new technique about 15 years ago in order to obtain full two-dimensional coverage of spatial extended objects in a single exposure, rather than having to spatially or spectrally scan the object in a timeconsuming fashion, which would also be adversely affected by temporal variations of observing conditions. From the E-mail address: [email protected]. 1387-6473/$ - see front matter Ó 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved. doi:10.1016/j.newar.2006.02.034
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beginning of the earliest instrument prototypes, the method was applied to numerous astrophysical problems, so that nowadays IFS can be regarded as a mature technique. Almost all major observatories are now offering IFS in the optical or near infrared on 4–10 m class telescopes. Europe has exploited its early lead in instrumentation in this area to develop a range of 3D instruments from the near-UV to the near-IR. A significant number of independent teams is, or has been, involved with the development of no less that 20 instruments with integral field capability.
M.M. Roth / New Astronomy Reviews 50 (2006) 252–258
253
Training & Support beyond the Network
Collective Training Efforts
Data Science Analysis Projects Software
Fig. 1. The methodological approach of the Euro3D research training network.
However, the expertise within the user community for the reception of the data from such instruments used to be rather limited, confined almost entirely to members of the groups building the 3D instruments. Although, as demonstrated in ample detail during this conference, 3D spectroscopy has enormous potential for improved observations of many classes of astronomical targets from point sources (stars, distant QSOs) to nebulae and nearby galaxies, the inertia of the community to adopt the new technique was understandable: the data sets are large and instrument-specific; the available field coverage has only recently become usefully large; the removal of the instrument signature requires considerable insight into the instrumental specifics; analysis software is complex and dedicated to specific astronomical tasks (e.g., velocity maps of galaxies). There used to be no standard and well distributed tasks for handling 3D spectroscopy data from the optical-IR range, although in the radio and X-ray, such data are accommodated by software packages (e.g., AIPS). The complexity of the data and the lack of targeted software for the general community has inhibited this uniquely powerful technique from general application. Users keen to apply the technique have had to collaborate with the instrument groups and extension of the method has been slowed. In realizing the cause and impact of these impediments, essentially all major 3D instrumentation groups in Europe
decided to join forces and start an initiative to overcome this situation. Based on the conceptual ideas of a previous, however unsuccessful, proposal for an FP5 RTD project, a 3D Spectroscopy Working Group was formed under the auspices of OPTICON, the Optical Infrared Coordination Network for Astronomy1. Led by Jeremy Walsh, ESO/STECF, the working group identified strategies of popularizing the technique, and making it more easily accessible for the normal user. Through a number of meetings between December 2000 and March 2002, networking structures were established among the partners, and a work plan identified, which formed the basis of a proposal for the Euro3D research training network (RTN), which was finally approved by the EC and came contractually into being for a duration from July 2002 until December 2005. The primary objective of RTNs in the framework of the 5th Framework Programme of the European Commission ‘‘Improving the Human Research Potential and the socioeconomic Knowledge Base’’ is to promote trainingthrough-research, especially of young researchers (YR) at the pre- and post-doctoral level, embedded in high quality international collaborative research projects, including those in emerging fields of research (Walsh and Roth, 2002). 1
www.astro-opticon.org.
254
M.M. Roth / New Astronomy Reviews 50 (2006) 252–258
2. Objectives and strategy The immediate objectives of the Euro3D RTN were intended as a three-fold approach: Science projects: to attract researchers who are unfamiliar with 3D spectroscopy to convince them, by application of the technique to forefront science cases, that the new technique will provide them with superior opportunities in solving their own scientific problems. Data analysis software: to provide these researchers with data analysis tools, enabling them to make efficient use of 3D data, whose complexity might otherwise have deterred them from considering the technique. Training and support beyond the network: to disseminate both scientific opportunities and data analysis tools in the research community in order to help establishing 3D spectroscopy as a common-user tool (see Fig. 1).
3. Network partners Emerging from the initial OPTICON 3D Spectroscopy Working Group, the Euro3D partnership was formed
essentially from all European teams which, at the time, were actively pursuing the development of 3D instrumentation, including the European Southern Observatory (ESO) as an international institution and one of the major research infrastructure operators in Europe with significant involvement in IFS. The RTN Coordinator is the Astrophysikalisches Institut Potsdam. Altogether, the network includes 11 nodes in 6 countries (see Fig. 2). The Euro3D RTN teams: Astrophysikalisches Institut Potsdam (Germany) – RTN Coordinator, AIP University of Cambridge, Institute of Astronomy (United Kingdom), CAM – University of Oxford (United Kingdom)* – University of Exeter (United Kingdom)* University of Durham, Department of Physics (United Kingdom), DUR European Southern Observatory, Garching (International Org.), ESO Max–Planck-Institut fu¨r Extraterr. Physik, Garching (Germany), MPE Universiteit Leiden, Leiden Observatory (The Netherlands), LEI Universite´ Claude Bernard Lyon 1, Observatoire de Lyon (France), LYO
Fig. 2. The international partnership of Euro3D.
M.M. Roth / New Astronomy Reviews 50 (2006) 252–258
255
EC - 5th Framework Programme
Euro3D RTN Coord.
OPTICON
Potsdam
Cambridge
Durham
MPE Garching
WPM 1
ESO *) Garching
Leiden
WPM 2
Lyon
Marseille
WPM 3
Milano
Paris
Tenerife Fig. 3. Organigram of the network.
Laboratoire d’Astrophysique de Marseille (France), MAR Istituto di Astrofisica Spaziale e Fisica Cosmica Milano (Italy), MIL Observatoire de Paris, Meudon (France), PAR Instituto de Astrofisica de Canarias, La Laguna, Tenerife (Spain), IAC *The
two subnodes University of Oxford and University of Exeter were established later during the course of the RTN as subcontractors of the University of Cambridge, when local team members from RTN nodes had moved to other places but still wished to maintain their collaboration with the RTN. 4. Work plan The RTN work plan is broken down into three work packages: Science Projects, Data Analysis Tools, and Col-
lective Training Activities2. The science projects were intentionally planned to cover a very broad range of applications in order to maximize the chances of the appointed young researchers to find an optimal topic according to their abilities and interests. The seven tasks of this work package include pre-main-sequence objects, resolved stellar populations in nearby galaxies, normal galaxies, active galaxies, groups and clusters of galaxies, high redshift galaxies, and gravitational lensing. The work package on data analysis tools encompasses: data format and software specifications, 3D visualization, line fitting, crowded field 3D spectroscopy, 3D mosaicing, data mining, 3D deconvolution, and 3D cross-correlation. Finally, the third work package includes the organisation of workshops, mini-workshops, major RTN meetings, international conferences, schools, and outreach, i.e., all networking activities in a broad sense (see Fig. 3). 2
see http://www.aip.de/Euro3D.
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M.M. Roth / New Astronomy Reviews 50 (2006) 252–258
5. Selected results The immediate outcome of the RTN activities can be judged best from the scientific output in terms of publications. While it is impractical to account for all of the work from a network involving a total number of about 70 scientists, a few highlights may give some insight into the impact of the collective work of Euro3D. Note that in the following only papers with significant contributions from young researchers are listed. Crowded Field 3D Spectroscopy – the Galactic Center. Of the striking results which arguably could only be achieved with the help of IFS, insight into the star cluster near the Galactic Center is probably the most prominent one (also presented during this conference). Based on commissioning run data of the SPIFFI instrument at the VLT, YR Horrobin presented first results of observations in this most interesting region (Horrobin et al., 2004). Making use of the simultaneous coverage of a
two-dimensional field-of-view, the superb spatial resolution of the instrument, and penetrating through an extraordinary high level of extinction thanks to operation in the near infrared, the results provide high quality spectra of individual stars in the crowded region in the central parsec of the Milky Way, which would be very difficult, if not impossible, to obtain otherwise. Normal galaxies. YR Falco´n-Barroso participated in a larger collaboration with data from the SAURON survey, obtained at WHT, La Palma. As first author of a paper on the formation and evolution of S0 galaxies, he published results for NGC7332, see paper FalconBarroso et al. (2004a). He also presented results on this galaxy and NGC5866 at the Euro3D Science Workshop in Cambridge (Falcon-Barroso et al., 2004b). Active galaxies. Based on PMAS backup data, obtained under less than optimal observing conditions, YR Sa´nchez et al. presented the science case of investigating the connection between merger events and the AGN phenomenon with 3D spectroscopy (Sa´nchez et al.,
Fig. 4. MUSE – an AO-assisted, 1 arcmin FOV 3D Spectrograph for the VLT.
M.M. Roth / New Astronomy Reviews 50 (2006) 252–258
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Fig. 5. E3D, the Euro3D Visualisation Tool for IFS data.
2004c). A successful proposal for VLT observing time with VIMOS-IFU yielded data, which was reduced with PMAS data reduction software and analyzed with a beta version of the E3D visualization tool (see below). Paper Sa´nchez et al. (2004a) presented, to our knowledge, the first scientific results obtained with the VIMOS-IFU and published in a refereed paper. High redshift galaxies. Using the SAURON instrument at WHT, the potential of IFS for the observation of extremely faint, high redshift galaxies was investigated. Papers Bower et al. (2003), Bower et al. (2004a), and Bower et al. (2004b) present the pioneering results of a study on the Ly-a emission line halo in the sub-mm source SSA1. These investigations and other work (Wilman et al., 2005) can be considered as a pilot study for MUSE, which was proposed as a 2nd Generation VLT instrument and is presently being developed by a consortium of 7 teams, among which Lyon (PI), Potsdam, Leiden, and ESO are previous Euro3D participants (Henault et al., 2003; Bacon et al., 2004). After having passed successfully a Phase-A study, and after endorsement by ESO-STC and Council in early 2004, this cutting edge project represents a major milestone in the ongoing European efforts of making 3D spectroscopy a high impact, common-user technique (see Fig. 4). Gravitational lensing. Using PMAS at Calar Alto, Wisotzki et al. (2003), with participation from YR Christensen (AIP), found evidence for microlensing, based on precise spectrophotometric measurements of the new quadruple lensed QSO He 0435-1223 (Wisotzki et al.,
2003). Similar results were obtained with INTEGRAL at the WHT by YR Gomez-Alvarez and YR Sa´nchez for the object HE1104–1805 (Go´mez-Alvarez et al., 2004). Euro3D data format. Introducing a common 3D spectroscopy data format, regardless of the instrumental origin of data, was regarded a key issue if any progress was to be made towards standard data analysis tools, like they are common place e.g., for direct imaging, CCD photometry, long slit spectroscopy, etc. Building on concepts that were developed already early on from activities of the OPTICON 3D Spectroscopy Working Group, a FITS-based data format was adopted, which is universal enough to accommodate data from any type of instrument, taking into account variance and data quality information, atmospheric refraction, astrometric information (WCS), and others. The Euro3D data format definition document is available from the Euro3D website. A comprehensive description was published by Kissler-Patig et al. (2004). 3D visualisation tool. Based on the requirements as identified during a mini-workshop at AIP on January 27/28, 2003, on the definition of the Euro3D data format, and using the Lyon C-library LCL of Pecontal-Rousset et al. (2004), YR S.Sa´nchez developed a 3D spectroscopy visualization tool prototype, called ‘‘E3D’’ (Sa´nchez, 2004,a), which is now available for public use from the Euro3D software distribution3. 3
http://www.aip.de/Euro3D.
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In view of its involvement in the MUSE data reduction software development with a prospective timeline until 2012, the Euro3D RTN coordinator AIP has made a commitment of supporting E3D in its present form even beyond the duration of the RTN contract, and further develop the tool on the basis of emerging new software standards, but still based on its fundamental principles like the requirements of universal usage, standard data format, layout and functionality (see Fig. 5). 6. Summary and conclusions From the experienced gained over 3 years of operation, one can clearly draw the conclusion that the Euro3D effort has indeed been fruitful in pursuing the goal of ‘‘popularizing 3D spectroscopy in Europe’’. More specifically, the RTN as a typical bottom-up programme has opened an opportunity for advancing innovative ideas, which could have not easily been accommodated with the more targeted thematic priorities of the EC. The emphasis on training of young researchers, sufficient funds for workshops, secondment, and mutual exchange visits have undoubtedly fostered European cohesion and advanced those RTN nodes which are located in less favoured regions. On the negative side, it was realized that the required effort for preparing a competitive proposal is substantial, that the success rates of RTN proposals are disappointingly low, and that there are rather complicated rules, which make the management and operation of an RTN laborious and cumbersome. Moreover, it was often felt that these rules are sometimes leading to less focussed research. Despite these drawbacks concerning the RTN programme in general, the overall impression of the success of the Euro3D RTN remains excellent.
Acknowledgement Financial support from the European Commission FP5 RTN programme is acknowledged under Contract No. HPRN–CT-2002-00305. References Bacon, B. et al., 2004. SPIE 5492. Bower, R.G., Morris, S.L., Bacon, R., Wilman, R., Sullivan, M., Chapman, S., Davies, R.L., de Zeeuw, P.T., 2003. ING News Letter 7, 5. Bower, R.G., Morris, S.L., Bacon, R., Wilman, R.J., Sullivan, M., Chapman, S., Davies, R.L., De Zeeuw, P.T., Emsellem, E., 2004a. MNRAS 351, 63. Bower, R., Swinbank, M., Davies, R., Metcalf, R.B., de Grijs, R., Bunker, A., Smith, J., Parry, I., Sharp, R., Dean, A., Gilmore, G., 2004b. AN 325, 139. Falcon-Barroso, J., Peletier, R.F., Emsellem, E., Kuntschner, H., Fathi, K., Bureau, M., Bacon, R., Cappellari, M., Copin, Y., Davies, R.L., de Zeeuw, P.T., 2004a. MNRAS 350, 35. Falcon-Barroso, J., Bacon, R., Bureau, M., Cappellari, M., Davies, R.L., Emsellem, E., Krajnovic, D., Kuntschner, H., McDermid, R., Peletier, R.F., de Zeeuw, P.T., 2004b. AN 325, 92. Go´mez-Alvarez, P., Mediavilla Gradolph, E., Sa´nchez, S.F., Arribas, S., Wisotzki, L., Wambsganss, J., Lewis, G., Munoz, J.A., 2004. AN 325, 132. Henault, F., Bacon, R., Bonneville, C., Boudon, D., Davies, R.L., Ferruit, P., Gilmore, G.F., LeFevre, O., Lemonnier, J.-P., Lilly, S., Morris, S.L., Prieto, E., Steinmetz, M., de Zeeuw, P.T., 2003. SPIE 4841, 1096. Horrobin et al., 2004. AN 325, 88. Kissler-Patig, M., Copin, Y., Ferruit, P., Pecontal-Rousset, A., Roth, M.M., 2004. AN 325, 159. Pecontal-Rousset, A., Copin, Y., Ferruit, P., 2004. AN 325, 163. Sa´nchez, S.F., 2004. AN 325, 167. Sa´nchez, S.F., Becker, T., Kelz, A., 2004a. AN 325, 171. Sa´nchez, S.F., Christensen, L., Becker, T., Kelz, A., Jahnke, K., Benn, C.R., Garcı´a-Lorenzo, B., Roth, M.M., 2004c. AN 325, 112. Walsh, J.R., Roth, M.M., 2002. The Messenger 109, 54. Wilman, R.J., Gerssen, J., Bower, R.G., Morris, S.L., Bacon, R., de Zeeuw, P.T., Davies, R.L., 2005. Nature 436, 227. Wisotzki, L., Becker, T., Christensen, L., et al., 2003. A&A 408, 455.
The Euro3D research training network Martin M. Roth Astrophysikalisches Institut Potsdam, An der Sternwarte 16, D-14482 Potsdam, Germany Available online 4 May 2006
Abstract Euro3D ‘‘Promoting Integral Field Spectroscopy in Europe’’ is a research training network, funded by the European Commission under the 5th Framework Programme (FP5), entitled ‘‘Improving the Human Research Potential and the socio-economic Knowledge Base’’, with a contractual duration from July 2002 until December 2005. The objective of RTNs is to promote training-through-research, especially of young researchers in the frame of high quality international collaborative research projects, including those in emerging fields of research. The major goal of the Euro3D effort is to popularize the emerging technique of 3D spectroscopy through a three-fold approach, including high visibility research, development of data analysis tools, and dissemination through workshops, conferences, and outreach activities. Ó 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved. Keywords: 3D Spectroscopy; Young researchers; Training; European commission; FP5
Contents 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6.
Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . Objectives and strategy . . . Network partners . . . . . . . Work plan . . . . . . . . . . . . Selected results . . . . . . . . . Summary and conclusions . Acknowledgement. . . . . . . References . . . . . . . . . . . .
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1. Introduction Integral field (3D) spectroscopy (IFS), the subject of this conference, was introduced as a new technique about 15 years ago in order to obtain full two-dimensional coverage of spatial extended objects in a single exposure, rather than having to spatially or spectrally scan the object in a timeconsuming fashion, which would also be adversely affected by temporal variations of observing conditions. From the E-mail address: [email protected]. 1387-6473/$ - see front matter Ó 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved. doi:10.1016/j.newar.2006.02.034
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252 254 254 255 256 258 258 258
beginning of the earliest instrument prototypes, the method was applied to numerous astrophysical problems, so that nowadays IFS can be regarded as a mature technique. Almost all major observatories are now offering IFS in the optical or near infrared on 4–10 m class telescopes. Europe has exploited its early lead in instrumentation in this area to develop a range of 3D instruments from the near-UV to the near-IR. A significant number of independent teams is, or has been, involved with the development of no less that 20 instruments with integral field capability.
M.M. Roth / New Astronomy Reviews 50 (2006) 252–258
253
Training & Support beyond the Network
Collective Training Efforts
Data Science Analysis Projects Software
Fig. 1. The methodological approach of the Euro3D research training network.
However, the expertise within the user community for the reception of the data from such instruments used to be rather limited, confined almost entirely to members of the groups building the 3D instruments. Although, as demonstrated in ample detail during this conference, 3D spectroscopy has enormous potential for improved observations of many classes of astronomical targets from point sources (stars, distant QSOs) to nebulae and nearby galaxies, the inertia of the community to adopt the new technique was understandable: the data sets are large and instrument-specific; the available field coverage has only recently become usefully large; the removal of the instrument signature requires considerable insight into the instrumental specifics; analysis software is complex and dedicated to specific astronomical tasks (e.g., velocity maps of galaxies). There used to be no standard and well distributed tasks for handling 3D spectroscopy data from the optical-IR range, although in the radio and X-ray, such data are accommodated by software packages (e.g., AIPS). The complexity of the data and the lack of targeted software for the general community has inhibited this uniquely powerful technique from general application. Users keen to apply the technique have had to collaborate with the instrument groups and extension of the method has been slowed. In realizing the cause and impact of these impediments, essentially all major 3D instrumentation groups in Europe
decided to join forces and start an initiative to overcome this situation. Based on the conceptual ideas of a previous, however unsuccessful, proposal for an FP5 RTD project, a 3D Spectroscopy Working Group was formed under the auspices of OPTICON, the Optical Infrared Coordination Network for Astronomy1. Led by Jeremy Walsh, ESO/STECF, the working group identified strategies of popularizing the technique, and making it more easily accessible for the normal user. Through a number of meetings between December 2000 and March 2002, networking structures were established among the partners, and a work plan identified, which formed the basis of a proposal for the Euro3D research training network (RTN), which was finally approved by the EC and came contractually into being for a duration from July 2002 until December 2005. The primary objective of RTNs in the framework of the 5th Framework Programme of the European Commission ‘‘Improving the Human Research Potential and the socioeconomic Knowledge Base’’ is to promote trainingthrough-research, especially of young researchers (YR) at the pre- and post-doctoral level, embedded in high quality international collaborative research projects, including those in emerging fields of research (Walsh and Roth, 2002). 1
www.astro-opticon.org.
254
M.M. Roth / New Astronomy Reviews 50 (2006) 252–258
2. Objectives and strategy The immediate objectives of the Euro3D RTN were intended as a three-fold approach: Science projects: to attract researchers who are unfamiliar with 3D spectroscopy to convince them, by application of the technique to forefront science cases, that the new technique will provide them with superior opportunities in solving their own scientific problems. Data analysis software: to provide these researchers with data analysis tools, enabling them to make efficient use of 3D data, whose complexity might otherwise have deterred them from considering the technique. Training and support beyond the network: to disseminate both scientific opportunities and data analysis tools in the research community in order to help establishing 3D spectroscopy as a common-user tool (see Fig. 1).
3. Network partners Emerging from the initial OPTICON 3D Spectroscopy Working Group, the Euro3D partnership was formed
essentially from all European teams which, at the time, were actively pursuing the development of 3D instrumentation, including the European Southern Observatory (ESO) as an international institution and one of the major research infrastructure operators in Europe with significant involvement in IFS. The RTN Coordinator is the Astrophysikalisches Institut Potsdam. Altogether, the network includes 11 nodes in 6 countries (see Fig. 2). The Euro3D RTN teams: Astrophysikalisches Institut Potsdam (Germany) – RTN Coordinator, AIP University of Cambridge, Institute of Astronomy (United Kingdom), CAM – University of Oxford (United Kingdom)* – University of Exeter (United Kingdom)* University of Durham, Department of Physics (United Kingdom), DUR European Southern Observatory, Garching (International Org.), ESO Max–Planck-Institut fu¨r Extraterr. Physik, Garching (Germany), MPE Universiteit Leiden, Leiden Observatory (The Netherlands), LEI Universite´ Claude Bernard Lyon 1, Observatoire de Lyon (France), LYO
Fig. 2. The international partnership of Euro3D.
M.M. Roth / New Astronomy Reviews 50 (2006) 252–258
255
EC - 5th Framework Programme
Euro3D RTN Coord.
OPTICON
Potsdam
Cambridge
Durham
MPE Garching
WPM 1
ESO *) Garching
Leiden
WPM 2
Lyon
Marseille
WPM 3
Milano
Paris
Tenerife Fig. 3. Organigram of the network.
Laboratoire d’Astrophysique de Marseille (France), MAR Istituto di Astrofisica Spaziale e Fisica Cosmica Milano (Italy), MIL Observatoire de Paris, Meudon (France), PAR Instituto de Astrofisica de Canarias, La Laguna, Tenerife (Spain), IAC *The
two subnodes University of Oxford and University of Exeter were established later during the course of the RTN as subcontractors of the University of Cambridge, when local team members from RTN nodes had moved to other places but still wished to maintain their collaboration with the RTN. 4. Work plan The RTN work plan is broken down into three work packages: Science Projects, Data Analysis Tools, and Col-
lective Training Activities2. The science projects were intentionally planned to cover a very broad range of applications in order to maximize the chances of the appointed young researchers to find an optimal topic according to their abilities and interests. The seven tasks of this work package include pre-main-sequence objects, resolved stellar populations in nearby galaxies, normal galaxies, active galaxies, groups and clusters of galaxies, high redshift galaxies, and gravitational lensing. The work package on data analysis tools encompasses: data format and software specifications, 3D visualization, line fitting, crowded field 3D spectroscopy, 3D mosaicing, data mining, 3D deconvolution, and 3D cross-correlation. Finally, the third work package includes the organisation of workshops, mini-workshops, major RTN meetings, international conferences, schools, and outreach, i.e., all networking activities in a broad sense (see Fig. 3). 2
see http://www.aip.de/Euro3D.
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5. Selected results The immediate outcome of the RTN activities can be judged best from the scientific output in terms of publications. While it is impractical to account for all of the work from a network involving a total number of about 70 scientists, a few highlights may give some insight into the impact of the collective work of Euro3D. Note that in the following only papers with significant contributions from young researchers are listed. Crowded Field 3D Spectroscopy – the Galactic Center. Of the striking results which arguably could only be achieved with the help of IFS, insight into the star cluster near the Galactic Center is probably the most prominent one (also presented during this conference). Based on commissioning run data of the SPIFFI instrument at the VLT, YR Horrobin presented first results of observations in this most interesting region (Horrobin et al., 2004). Making use of the simultaneous coverage of a
two-dimensional field-of-view, the superb spatial resolution of the instrument, and penetrating through an extraordinary high level of extinction thanks to operation in the near infrared, the results provide high quality spectra of individual stars in the crowded region in the central parsec of the Milky Way, which would be very difficult, if not impossible, to obtain otherwise. Normal galaxies. YR Falco´n-Barroso participated in a larger collaboration with data from the SAURON survey, obtained at WHT, La Palma. As first author of a paper on the formation and evolution of S0 galaxies, he published results for NGC7332, see paper FalconBarroso et al. (2004a). He also presented results on this galaxy and NGC5866 at the Euro3D Science Workshop in Cambridge (Falcon-Barroso et al., 2004b). Active galaxies. Based on PMAS backup data, obtained under less than optimal observing conditions, YR Sa´nchez et al. presented the science case of investigating the connection between merger events and the AGN phenomenon with 3D spectroscopy (Sa´nchez et al.,
Fig. 4. MUSE – an AO-assisted, 1 arcmin FOV 3D Spectrograph for the VLT.
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Fig. 5. E3D, the Euro3D Visualisation Tool for IFS data.
2004c). A successful proposal for VLT observing time with VIMOS-IFU yielded data, which was reduced with PMAS data reduction software and analyzed with a beta version of the E3D visualization tool (see below). Paper Sa´nchez et al. (2004a) presented, to our knowledge, the first scientific results obtained with the VIMOS-IFU and published in a refereed paper. High redshift galaxies. Using the SAURON instrument at WHT, the potential of IFS for the observation of extremely faint, high redshift galaxies was investigated. Papers Bower et al. (2003), Bower et al. (2004a), and Bower et al. (2004b) present the pioneering results of a study on the Ly-a emission line halo in the sub-mm source SSA1. These investigations and other work (Wilman et al., 2005) can be considered as a pilot study for MUSE, which was proposed as a 2nd Generation VLT instrument and is presently being developed by a consortium of 7 teams, among which Lyon (PI), Potsdam, Leiden, and ESO are previous Euro3D participants (Henault et al., 2003; Bacon et al., 2004). After having passed successfully a Phase-A study, and after endorsement by ESO-STC and Council in early 2004, this cutting edge project represents a major milestone in the ongoing European efforts of making 3D spectroscopy a high impact, common-user technique (see Fig. 4). Gravitational lensing. Using PMAS at Calar Alto, Wisotzki et al. (2003), with participation from YR Christensen (AIP), found evidence for microlensing, based on precise spectrophotometric measurements of the new quadruple lensed QSO He 0435-1223 (Wisotzki et al.,
2003). Similar results were obtained with INTEGRAL at the WHT by YR Gomez-Alvarez and YR Sa´nchez for the object HE1104–1805 (Go´mez-Alvarez et al., 2004). Euro3D data format. Introducing a common 3D spectroscopy data format, regardless of the instrumental origin of data, was regarded a key issue if any progress was to be made towards standard data analysis tools, like they are common place e.g., for direct imaging, CCD photometry, long slit spectroscopy, etc. Building on concepts that were developed already early on from activities of the OPTICON 3D Spectroscopy Working Group, a FITS-based data format was adopted, which is universal enough to accommodate data from any type of instrument, taking into account variance and data quality information, atmospheric refraction, astrometric information (WCS), and others. The Euro3D data format definition document is available from the Euro3D website. A comprehensive description was published by Kissler-Patig et al. (2004). 3D visualisation tool. Based on the requirements as identified during a mini-workshop at AIP on January 27/28, 2003, on the definition of the Euro3D data format, and using the Lyon C-library LCL of Pecontal-Rousset et al. (2004), YR S.Sa´nchez developed a 3D spectroscopy visualization tool prototype, called ‘‘E3D’’ (Sa´nchez, 2004,a), which is now available for public use from the Euro3D software distribution3. 3
http://www.aip.de/Euro3D.
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In view of its involvement in the MUSE data reduction software development with a prospective timeline until 2012, the Euro3D RTN coordinator AIP has made a commitment of supporting E3D in its present form even beyond the duration of the RTN contract, and further develop the tool on the basis of emerging new software standards, but still based on its fundamental principles like the requirements of universal usage, standard data format, layout and functionality (see Fig. 5). 6. Summary and conclusions From the experienced gained over 3 years of operation, one can clearly draw the conclusion that the Euro3D effort has indeed been fruitful in pursuing the goal of ‘‘popularizing 3D spectroscopy in Europe’’. More specifically, the RTN as a typical bottom-up programme has opened an opportunity for advancing innovative ideas, which could have not easily been accommodated with the more targeted thematic priorities of the EC. The emphasis on training of young researchers, sufficient funds for workshops, secondment, and mutual exchange visits have undoubtedly fostered European cohesion and advanced those RTN nodes which are located in less favoured regions. On the negative side, it was realized that the required effort for preparing a competitive proposal is substantial, that the success rates of RTN proposals are disappointingly low, and that there are rather complicated rules, which make the management and operation of an RTN laborious and cumbersome. Moreover, it was often felt that these rules are sometimes leading to less focussed research. Despite these drawbacks concerning the RTN programme in general, the overall impression of the success of the Euro3D RTN remains excellent.
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