A Telescope for Submillimeter Spectroscopy from the South Pole

本项目的目的是开发和使用一种新的 南极的设施，目的是使天文 以及亚毫米波的大气观测 光谱的区域。 这个新望远镜将有一个孔径 1.2米，最先进的超导绝缘- 超导外差接收器和声光 光谱仪 该仪器将利用极低的 极地寒冷大气中的水蒸气含量， 是极地高原所独有的 通常是水蒸气 这限制了观测的灵敏度， 地区 该项目被称为南极亚毫米望远镜， 远程天文台（ASTRO）。 一些具体的科学目标是： 1996年选定区域的碳原子和一氧化碳调查 南方的天空 对恒星形成云、附近星系和 质量损失恒星的包络; 测量大气臭氧、一氧化碳和 可能还有其他痕量气体，以进一步了解极地 平流层和每年臭氧空洞的原因，以及; 寻找原星系。 该项目将得到NSF极地分部的联合支持。 AT T Bell天文科学部 实验室，伊利诺伊大学和波士顿大学。 望远镜最终将用于观测 调查人员从其他机构而不是原来的三个。

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.