Development of Sub-Arc Second Angular Resolution with One Kilometer Baseline in the Millimeter Array

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ABSTRACT STI-9413933 Welch, William J. This project will increase the number of antennas in the Berkeley, Illinois, Maryland Association (BIMA) Array from nine to 11, thereby increasing its speed and sensitivity, and will increase the angular resolution of the array to 0.1" (HST resolution) by adding stations which produce one kilometer baselines both East-West and North- South. Optical fiber will be used to interconnect them. Much of the unique and important science to arise from millimeter interferometers has resulted from their superior spatial resolution compared to large single antennas. Current millimeter arrays are limited to resolutions of 1.5" to 3" by the maximum available separations between antennas. However, this resolution is not a fundamental limit. Extrapolation from experience with current millimeter arrays suggests that observations should be successful on several kilometer baselines during good weather. The important new science that this development will enable includes adequate resolution to fully image star formation, the study of rich interstellar chemistry in distant clouds, imaging Active Galactic Nuclei, and imaging the important smaller members of the solar system. ***