README web version of /home/usg/OPS/MTS/readme_xml/readme_77016600

Principal Investigator Email Address

• rfc@ast.cam.ac.uk

Estimated Total Execution Time (hours, including overheads)

• 28 hours

General Description

• We aim at studying the HeII reionization and its impact on the intergalactic
   medium. 
  With this observation taken at UVES/VLT, we will obtain high-resolution (R ~ 45,000),
   high signal-to-noise (~ 40) spectra of 3 QSOs with emission redshifts z ~ 3.7. The
   spectra will cover the Lyman-alpha forest, i.e. intergalactic medium, at 3.0 <
   z < 3.6, the period in which HeII (doubly ionized helium) reionization is expected
   to occur. Using an analysis based on the line widths of the forest neutral hydrogen
   (HI) lines, we aim at looking for signatures of HeII reionization such as changes
   in the line widths arising from temperature fluctuations at 
  3.0 < z < 3.6. This project will provide important additional observational
   constraints on
  when and how HI and HeII reionization occurred, and their impact on the physical
   state of the intergalactic medium.

Waiver Requests

• Due to the faintness of our targets, less than V = 18 magnitude, the read-out
   noise is a dominant source to limit the signal-to-noise of the spectra. Thus, we
   asked to an exposure time up to 100 minutes so that the signal-to-noise ratio is
   less affected be the CCD read-out noise, but still adaptable for the seeing variation,
   on January 25, 2006. The waiver was granted by Dr. Francesca Primas on January 26,
   2006, under 077.A-0166A.01.WAV.

Critical Observing Condition Constraints

• N/A

Time-Critical Aspects

• N/A

Special Execution Requirements

• N/A

Special Calibration Information

• N/A

ToO Information

• N/A

ToO Activators List

• N/A

Is this a Pre-imaging run ?

• false

Pre-imaging Requirements

• N/A

Source(s) of Pre-imaging

• ---(Empty)---

Pre-imaging sources not listed above

• ---(Empty)---

Do all your OBs comply with the instrument-specific requirements listed
 on the instrument-specific Phase 2 web page ?

• YES

If this is a pre-imaging run, did you select PRE-IMAGING for the Observing
 Category for each Observing Template ?

• N/A

Do all your finding charts comply with both the general and instrument-specific
 Phase 2 Web Pages ?

• YES

If you submitted OBs for standard stars, did you specify the magnitude
 and spectral type of all standard stars in the OBs ?

• N/A

Have you included OBs for any calibrations that you need but which are
 not part of the Calibration Plan ?

• N/A

If you are observing Moving Targets, have you attached suitable ephemeris
 files to your OBs?

• N/A

If you have preferences which OBs should be executed first, did you make
 use of the User Priority field in the OBs ?

• YES

If this is a run that requires coordinated observations with other facilities,
 did you give proper instructions in the Time-Critical Aspects Section ?

• N/A

If you need secondary guiding, are there suitable objects within 30 arcsec
 from your target ?

• N/A