The Arizona Radio Observatory: Surveying the ISM through Millimeter and Sub-millimeter Spectroscopy

亚利桑那射电天文台：通过毫米波和亚毫米波谱仪调查 ISM

• 批准号: 1140030
• 负责人: Lucy Ziurys
• 金额: $ 161.59万
• 依托单位: University of Arizona
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Continuing Grant
• 财政年份: 2012
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2012-04-15 至 2016-09-30
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=1140030&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Arizona; Radio; Observatory; Surveying; ISM

This award under the University Radio Observatories (URO) program supports scientific research, technical developments, operations, student training and public outreach at the Arizona Radio Observatory (ARO). The ARO operates the 10 m Sub-millimeter Telescope (SMT) on Mt. Graham and the 12 m millimeter-wave antenna at Kitt Peak. The ARO facility offers wide frequency coverage from 65 to 720 GHz utilizing state-of-the-art ALMA-type heterodyne sideband-separating (SBS) receivers. This provides the high sensitivity and stability needed for spectroscopy with broad intermediate frequency (IF) bandwidths (16 GHz) to do large Galactic and extragalactic surveys in the spatial and frequency domains supported by this instrumentation. Further, the ARO capabilities allow for a wide range of observations requiring maximum sensitivity, such as Very Long Baseline Interferometry (VLBI). The single-dish programs serve as both ALMA preparatory and ALMA complementary science investigations. The ARO complements spectroscopic studies across the ALMA frequency range and provides a venue for path-finding observations for the ALMA array. The investigators plan to develop and construct receivers and a new digital spectrometer will be fabricated for maximum utilization of the receivers. The support from the URO program permits that 50% of the time on both ARO telescopes will be available to outside observers. The ARO supports users with trained telescope operators, on-site visitor facilities, and remote observing capabilities. The telescopes are closely connected to laboratory spectroscopy facilities, which allows the measurement and astronomical verification of crucial molecular data.The research by the investigators addresses the processes whereby stars and planetary systems are created from interstellar material and the feedback effects on the dynamical and chemical state of the interstellar medium (ISM). Studies include: (a) an extensive survey of starless cores and Class 0 protostars (b) large scale mapping in CO and other molecules to probe star formation in Bok globules and giant molecular clouds, (c) a broad molecular line survey of the circumstellar shell of NML Cygnus to document the dynamical and chemical properties of massive supergiant stars; (d) exploration of the morphology and chemical composition of planetary nebulae to better understand their connection to the diffuse ISM and the formation of dense clouds; (e) molecular line studies of refractory gas-phase molecules to elucidate dust grain composition; and (f) documentation of the properties of sub-mm galaxies through surveys of transitions of species such as H2O and CI that offer great diagnostic power. In addition, ARO will continue to play a key role in the international millimeter/sub-millimeter VLBI studies of the environs of black holes (e.g. Sgr A*). Among the broader impacts of the ARO program are undergraduate and graduate student training opportunities in multi -disciplinary science involving observations, instrumentation development and laboratory research. This program will strengthen student engagement and STEM education and to diversify the population of students and researchers in STEM fields.

根据大学射电天文台(URO)计划，该奖项支持亚利桑那州射电天文台(ARO)的科学研究、技术开发、业务、学生培训和公共宣传。ARO在山上运行着10米亚毫米望远镜(SMT)。格雷厄姆和基特峰的12米毫米波天线。ARO设施利用最先进的ALMA类型外差边带分离(SBS)接收器提供从65 GHz到720 GHz的广泛频率覆盖。这为具有宽中频(IF)带宽(16 GHz)的光谱学提供了所需的高灵敏度和稳定性，以便在该仪器支持的空间和频率域中进行大规模的银河系和河外调查。此外，ARO功能允许进行需要最高灵敏度的大范围观测，例如甚长基线干涉测量(VLBI)。单盘计划既是ALMA的预备研究，也是ALMA的补充科学研究。ARO补充了ALMA频率范围内的光谱研究，并为ALMA阵列的寻径观测提供了场所。研究人员计划开发和建造接收器，并将制造一种新的数字光谱仪，以最大限度地利用接收器。在URO计划的支持下，两台ARO望远镜50%的时间都将提供给外部观察者。ARO为用户提供训练有素的望远镜操作员、现场访问设施和远程观测能力。这些望远镜与实验室的光谱设备紧密相连，可以对关键的分子数据进行测量和天文验证。研究人员的研究涉及星际物质形成恒星和行星系统的过程，以及对星际介质的动力学和化学状态(ISM)的反馈效应。研究包括：(A)对无恒星核心和0级原恒星进行广泛的调查；(B)在CO和其他分子中进行大规模测绘，以探测博克球体和巨型分子云中的恒星形成；(C)对NML天鹅座的星际外壳进行广泛的分子谱线调查，以证明大质量超巨星的动力学和化学性质；(D)探索行星星云的形态和化学成分，以更好地了解它们与扩散的ISM和致密云的形成的联系；(E)对难熔的气相分子进行分子谱线研究，以阐明尘埃颗粒的组成；以及(F)通过调查提供强大诊断能力的H2O和CI等物种的跃迁，记录亚毫米星系的性质。此外，ARO将继续在国际毫米级/亚毫米级黑洞VLBI研究中发挥关键作用(例如SgrA*)。ARO计划的更广泛影响包括本科生和研究生在涉及观测、仪器开发和实验室研究的多学科科学方面的培训机会。该计划将加强学生参与和STEM教育，并使STEM领域的学生和研究人员群体多样化。