AIRO: The Antarctic Infrared Observatory

最初的提案寻求资金，以建立一个南极红外天文台（AIRO），这是一个新的2米直径的红外望远镜，将部署在南极。南极洲为地基红外天文学提供了独特的低热背景。南极洲的红外线望远镜只有一个不大的孔径，就可以达到非凡的灵敏度。AIRO打算利用这些独特的条件来测量红外天空并进行时间监测研究。然而，AIRO目前缺乏望远镜的详细概念设计，以及它提出的第一个仪器，一个2色（K + L和K + M波段）宽视场成像相机。开发这样的设计对AIRO的成功至关重要。设计将遵循科学要求，最大限度地提高南极低温度背景的科学回报。在修订工作所涉期间，提议者将（1）确定望远镜和照相机的详细科学要求，（2）为红外照相机制定概念性光学和机械设计，（3）为望远镜制定概念性光学设计，（4）获得照相机和望远镜的可靠成本估算。这项工程研究将增加安全裕度，并降低在南极洲建造整个望远镜的风险。 此外，对技术和科学要求进行更切合实际的评估将导致更准确的费用估计。

The original proposal seeks funding to build an Antarctic Infrared Observatory (AIRO), a new 2-m diameter infrared telescope to be deployed at the South Pole. Antarctica provides a uniquely low thermal background for ground-based infrared astronomy. With only a modest aperture an infrared telescope in Antarctica can achieve extraordinary sensitivity. AIRO intends to exploit these unique conditions surveying the infrared sky and performing temporal monitoring studies. However, AIRO currently lacks a detailed conceptual design for the telescope and for its proposed first instrument, a 2 color (K + L, and K + M band) wide-field imaging camera. Developing such a design is critical to AIRO's success. The design will flow from the scientific requirements that maximize the scientific return from the low Antarctic thermal backgrounds. During the period covered by the revised effort, the proposers will (1) establish the detailed scientific requirements for the telescope and camera, (2) develop a conceptual optical and mechanical design for the infrared camera, (3) develop a conceptual optical design for the telescope, and (4) obtain robust cost estimates for the camera and telescope. This engineering study will increase the safety margin and mitigate risk in building the entire telescope in Antarctica. Moreover, a more realistic assessment of the technical and scientific requirements will result in a more accurate cost estimate.