Galactic kU-band Thermal Survey (GUTS)
  This White Paper proposes a unique milli-Jansky sensitive arcsecond
resolution VLA 15 GHz (Ku band) continuum polarization imaging survey of the
Galactic plane using C array configuration. The science driver is to fill the
gap between previous lower frequency VLA Galactic plane surveys, mainly
detecting synchrotron radio emission at 1.4 and 5 GHz, and the higher frequency
(future ALMA and present MSX, SPITZER, PLANCK, WISE) 0.1-100 THz infrared
surveys that detect thermal radiation. The 15 GHz band appears to be the
highest frequency at which such a survey is both feasible and maximally unique
from the synchrotron radio view and will facilitate new multi-waveband Galactic
research and, for example, identify targets for ALMA. Depending on the final
survey parameters, for example a 3 second integration time for a (8-sigma) 1
mJy 12-18 GHz detection limit over a 10 degree band along the VLA observable
(280 degree) Galactic plane, this survey would consume up to 3200 VLA observing
hours using on-the-fly mapping and still allow for, e.g., an additional sub-Jy
sensitive 12.2 GHz methanol maser line survey. Furthermore this survey would
reveal potential compact high-frequency VLA calibrators in the Galactic bulge
and plane, a region where there is a severe lack of them.
