Astronomical Research and Technical Support of Millimeter-Wavelength VLBI

AST-0096454。东北无线电观测站公司。罗杰斯毫米波VLBIT天文研究与技术支持该奖项支持东北射电天文台“协调毫米VLBI阵列”(CMVA)的运行。CMVA为执行毫米波长甚长基线干涉测量(VLBI)的特别观测站网络提供统一的调度、支持和分析基础设施。CMVA网络由一组核心毫米波观测站组成，这些观测站同意每年提供大约两周的时间用于甚小岛屿观测；更多的设施根据提议提供时间。CMVA是独一无二的，它的目的是让所有天文学家都可以使用毫米波VLBI，而不仅仅是那些技术专家。毫米波长的VLBI达到了天文学中最高的角分辨率--通常是在3毫米处的50毫角秒。只有这样的分辨率才能开始揭示与活动星系核的巨大中心引擎(如类星体和BL碎屑)相关的紧密天体物理结构，而且只有在毫米波长下，人们才能最大限度地减少由于星际等离子体散射和光学深度效应而造成的连续谱VLBI的内在限制。毫米波段还含有丰富的分子脉泽，其结构只能通过VLBI来解析。在过去的获奖期间，来自超过25个机构的60名研究人员利用CMVA，对银河系中心进行了观测，对活动星系核进行了调查，并对恒星形成区域和演化恒星的包层中的甲醇和一氧化硅脉泽进行了研究。该提案要求提供资金，以使CMVA在最后3年内继续运作。到那时，提出者预计3毫米VLBI的努力将完全转移到NRAO的VLBA-它将完成升级到3毫米的能力-CMVA的特别活动将被放弃。***

AST-0096454. Northeast Radio Observatory Corporation. PI: A. A. E. Rogers Astronomical Research and Technical Support of Millimeter Wavelength VLBIThis award supports the operation of the Northeast Radio Observatory's "Coordinated mm-VLBI Array" (CMVA). The CMVA provides unified scheduling, support, and analysis infrastructure for an ad hoc network of observatories which carry out very long baseline interferometry (VLBI) at millimeter wavelengths. The CMVA network consists of a core group of mm-wave observatories which have agreed to make approximately two weeks per year available for VLBI; additional facilities make time available on a per-proposal basis. The CMVA is unique, and its intent is to make mm-wave VLBI available to all astronomers, not just those who are experts in the technique. Millimeter-wavelength VLBI achieves the highest angular resolution in astronomy-typically 50 milliarcseconds at 3mm. Only such resolutions can begin to reveal the compact astrophysical structures associated with the massive central engines of active galactic nuclei such as quasars and BL Lacertids, and only at millimeter wavelengths does one minimize the inherent limitations of continuum VLBI due to scattering by the interstellar plasma and optical depth effects. The millimeter band is also rich in molecular masers whose structure can only be resolved by VLBI. During the past award period 60 investigators from more than 25 institutions made use of the CMVA, producing observations of the Galactic Center, a survey of active galactic nuclei, and studies of methanol and silicon monoxide masers in both star-forming regions and the envelopes of evolved stars. This proposal requests funds to continue operation of the CMVA for a final 3-year period. At that time, the proposers expect that 3mm VLBI efforts will fully pass to the NRAO's VLBA - which will have completed upgrading to 3mm capability - and the CMVA's ad hoc activities will be abandoned. ***