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.

在大学无线电观测员（URO）计划下，该奖项支持亚利桑那无线电天文台（ARO）的科学研究，技术发展，操作，学生培训和公共宣传。 ARO在Graham山上运行10 m的亚毫米望远镜（SMT），在Kitt Peak上运行了12 m的毫米望远镜和12 m毫米波天线。 ARO设施使用最先进的Alma型杂质侧带分开（SBS）接收器提供了65至720 GHz的频率覆盖率。这提供了具有广泛的中间频率（IF）带宽（16 GHz）的光谱学所需的高灵敏度和稳定性，以在该仪器支持的空间和频域中进行大型银河系和外层状调查。此外，ARO功能允许进行广泛的观测值，需要最大的灵敏度，例如非常长的基线干涉法（VLBI）。单次计划是ALMA预备和ALMA补充科学调查。 ARO补充了跨ALMA频率范围的光谱研究，并为Alma阵列提供了探望观测的场所。研究人员计划开发和构建接收器，并将制造新的数字光谱仪，以最大程度地利用接收器。 URO计划的支持允许两个ARO望远镜的50％的时间可供外部观察者使用。 ARO通过训练有素的望远镜操作员，现场访问者设施以及远程观察功能为用户提供支持。望远镜与实验室光谱设施密切相关，该设施允许对关键分子数据进行测量和天文验证。研究人员的研究探讨了恒星和行星系统由星际材料产生的过程，以及对反馈对固有介质的动态和化学状态的影响（ISM）。研究包括：（a）对CO和其他分子中的无星核和0类原恒星的广泛调查（b）探测BOK球和巨型分子云中的恒星形成的大规模映射，（C）对NML Cygnus壳的广泛分子线调查，以记录动态和化学性质的大量超级超级星星的动态和化学性质； （d）探索行星星云的形态和化学组成，以更好地理解它们与弥漫性ISM的联系和密集云的形成； （e）耐火气相分子的分子线研究，以阐明灰尘晶粒的组成； （f）通过调查具有强大诊断能力的H2O和CI的过渡，记录了亚MM星系的性质。此外，ARO将继续在国际毫米/亚毫米级VLBI对黑洞周围的研究（例如SGR A*）中发挥关键作用。 ARO计划的更广泛影响包括涉及观察，仪器开发和实验室研究的多学科科学的本科和研究生培训机会。该计划将加强学生的参与和STEM教育，并使STEM领域的学生和研究人员多样化。