L'interferometre Millimetrique Etendu de l'Hemisphere Nord

The NOEMA (Northern Extended Millimeter Array) project is the extension of the IRAM Plateau de Bure interferometer.It includes in its first phase (NOEMA Phase I, 2013-2018):
- the construction of 4 millimeter wave antennas of 15 m diameter, in addition to the existing 6 antennas;
- the development of new generation wide-band ultra-low-noise receivers for all 10 antennas;
- and the development of an advanced wideband correlator.
The performances of the observatory will be improved by several orders of magnitude, opening new and exciting opportunities for the astronomical community. NOEMA Phase II will add 2 additional antennas (for a grand total of 12) and extend the baselines (the distance between antennas) from 800 m to 1.6 km.

After several years of design, research and development activities, the main construction phase has started in 2013. The new NOEMA antennas have been put into operation in 2015 (Antenna 7), 2016 (Antenna 8) and 2017 (Antenna 9). The construction of the 10th antenna is approaching completion. The new correlator has been installed and commissioned during the fall 2017.
 
NOEMA remains on-budget, with an expected completion of Phase I mid of 2018.