Infrastructure Cooperation Network in Radio Astronomy - RadioNet (FP5)

Enhancing Access to Research Infrastructures
HUMAN POTENTIAL PROGRAMME
Contract No. HPRI-CT-1999-40003

The Infrastructure Cooperation Network (ICN) RadioNet coordinates new initiatives in the field of Radio Astronomy under the auspices of the European Community under its Fifth Framework Programme through the Access to Research Infrastructures (ARI) programme. RadioNet is focused on making more effective use of the present distributed infrastructure of the European VLBI Network (EVN) of radio telescopes and building up the necessary scientific, technical and organisational consensus for the future major facilities in this field: the Atacama Large Millimetre Array (ALMA) and the Square Kilometre Array (SKA). Specific objectives of the Network are to:

• improve the interoperability and reliability of the EVN telescopes and thereby achieve sustained reliable operation during VLBI observations
• disseminate knowledge of VLBI techniques, and provide a forum for presenting new results via EVN Schools and Symposia
• facilitate system studies of the impact of the ALMA science case on the technical and operational design of the array during its upcoming design and development phase
• finalise the scientific case for the SKA, coordinate its technical development, and map out the collaborations leading to a formal proposal for the facility.

• RadioNet programme
• Network structure and contacts
• First annual report (pdf): 01.03.2000 - 28.02.2001
• Second annual report (pdf) : 01.03.2001 - 28.02.2002
• Third annual report (pdf): 01.03.2002 - 28.02.2003
• Preparation for the 6th Framework Programme

EC Brochure on European Radio Astronomy Facilities and VLBI (pdf)