A Telescope for Submillimeter Spectroscopy from the South Pole

该项目的目的是在南极开发和使用一个新设施，以便在光谱的亚毫米波长区域进行天文和大气观测。这个新的望远镜将有1.2米的口径，一个最先进的超导绝缘超导Hetrodyne接收器和一个声光光谱仪。该仪器将利用寒冷的极地大气中非常低的水蒸气含量，这是极地高原独有的条件。通常是水蒸气限制了这一光谱区域的观测灵敏度。该项目名为南极亚毫米望远镜和远程天文台(ASTRO)。一些具体的科学目标是：对选定的南方天空区域进行原子碳和一氧化碳调查；观测恒星形成的星云、附近的星系和质量损失恒星的包层；测量大气臭氧、一氧化碳和可能的其他微量气体的分布，以进一步了解极地平流层和每年臭氧空洞的原因；寻找原星系。该项目将得到美国国家科学基金会极地项目部、天文科学部、美国电话电报公司贝尔实验室、伊利诺伊大学和波士顿大学的联合支持。该望远镜最终将提供给来自最初三个机构以外的机构的研究人员进行观测。

It is the purpose of this project to develop and use a new facility at the South Pole for the purpose of making astronomical and atmospheric observations in the sub-millimeter wavelength region of the spectrum. This new telescope will have a aperture of 1.2 meters, a state-of-the art superconducting-insulating- superconducting hetrodyne receiver and an acousto-optic spectrometer. The instrument will take advantage of the very low water vapor content of the cold polar atmosphere, conditions that are unique to the polar plateau. It is normally the water vapor that limits the sensitivity of observations in this spectral region. The project is called Antarctic Submillimeter Telescope and Remote Observatory (ASTRO). Some specific science objectives are: Atomic carbon and carbon monoxide surveys of selected regions of the southern skies; Observations of star-forming clouds, nearby galaxies and envelopes of mass-losing stars; Measuring the profiles of atmospheric ozone, carbon monoxide and possibly other trace gases to further understanding of the polar stratosphere and the causes of the annual ozone hole, and; A search for protogalaxies. The project will be jointly supported by NSF's Division of Polar Programs, Division of Astronomical Sciences, AT&T Bell Laboratories, The University of Illinois and Boston University. The telescope will eventually be made available for observations by investigators from institutions other than the original three.