BETTII - the Balloon Experimental Twin Telescope for Far Infrared Interferometry

BETTII - 用于远红外干涉测量的气球实验双望远镜

• 批准号: ST/K002775/1
• 负责人: Giorgio Savini
• 金额: $ 14.73万
• 依托单位: University College London
• 依托单位国家: 英国
• 项目类别: Research Grant
• 财政年份: 2013
• 资助国家: 英国
• 起止时间: 2013 至 无数据
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://gtr.ukri.org/projects?ref=ST%2FK002775%2F1
• 关键词: BETTII; Balloon; Experimental; Twin; Telescope

(as per submitted Joint proposal - MJG_BETTII_PRD)More than half of the energy generated in the Universe since the big bang now exists in the form of electromagneticradiation in the far infrared part of the spectrum - wavelengths a few hundred times longer than those of visible light. Muchof the energy emitted by developing stars and young stars is absorbed by the clouds of gas and dust in which they form,and re-radiated in the far infrared. So if we want to understand the birth processes of stars in our own galaxy today, or toinvestigate how galaxies grow and develop (through star-formation), we need to make observations in the far infrared. Inrecent years, huge advances have been made by telescopes in space and operating on high altitude balloons in ourendeavours to gain knowledge of the details of star and planetary system formation and the history of galaxies like our ownMilky Way. But astronomy at far infrared wavelengths has a long way to go before we will be able to take pictures withsimilar quality to that obtained by optical telescopes at shorter wavelengths and by arrays of radio telescopes at longerwavelengths.Observations have to be made from space or from high altitude because the atmosphere is strongly absorbing in this partof the spectrum. That makes it difficult to use large ground-based telescopes. In addition, the technique of "interferometry",used in the radio region of combining the beams from number of smaller telescopes to make an image as good as thatfrom a much larger one, has not yet been perfected in the far infrared. So at present, the image quality of observations inthe far infrared is not nearly as good as astronomers need to get a better view of stars and galaxies and their origins.In this project we will make a big advance by building the first scientific interferometer working in the far infrared, flying it ona high altitude balloon, and making observations of both of star forming regions in our galaxy and also of active galaxiesharbouring massive black holes at their centres, to learn more about how stars form in clusters and how black holesinteract with the galaxies they inhabit. These pioneering measurements will be the highest quality far infrared observationsever, in terms of our ability to discern fine details in the image. Besides giving us new scientific insights, they will allow usto perfect and demonstrate the technology needed to build a more ambitions and powerful instrument in the future, perhapsa space-borne system, to provide even better observations. The scientific importance of such an observatory has beenrecognised by both NASA and by the European Space Agency, who are considering space missions of this type. However,the necessary technology and expertise is not available yet, and this work will make a big contribution to establishing ourcapability to fly such a mission.

（根据提交的联合提案 - MJG_BETTII_PRD）自大爆炸以来，宇宙中产生的能量一半以上以电磁辐射的形式存在于光谱的远红外部分 - 波长比可见光长数百倍。发展中的恒星和年轻恒星发出的大部分能量被它们形成的气体和尘埃云吸收，并在远红外线中重新辐射。因此，如果我们想了解当今银河系中恒星的诞生过程，或者研究星系如何生长和发展（通过恒星形成），我们需要在远红外区域进行观测。近年来，太空望远镜和高空气球操作取得了巨大进步，我们努力了解恒星和行星系统形成的细节以及银河系等星系的历史。但是，在我们能够拍摄出与较短波长的光学望远镜和较长波长的射电望远镜阵列所获得的质量相似的照片之前，远红外波长的天文学还有很长的路要走。观测必须从太空或高空进行，因为大气层对这部分光谱有强烈的吸收。这使得大型地面望远镜的使用变得困难。此外，在无线电领域中使用的“干涉测量”技术，将多个较小望远镜的光束组合起来，形成与大得多的望远镜的图像一样好的图像，但在远红外领域尚未完善。因此，目前远红外观测的图像质量还远远不能满足天文学家需要更好地观察恒星和星系及其起源的要求。在这个项目中，我们将取得重大进展，建造第一台在远红外工作的科学干涉仪，将其装在高空气球上飞行，并对银河系中的恒星形成区域以及在其附近蕴藏着大质量黑洞的活动星系进行观测。 中心，以了解更多关于恒星如何在星团中形成以及黑洞如何与它们居住的星系相互作用的信息。就我们辨别图像细节的能力而言，这些开创性的测量将是有史以来最高质量的远红外观测。除了为我们提供新的科学见解外，它们还将使我们能够完善和展示未来建造更雄心勃勃、更强大的仪器（也许是星载系统）所需的技术，以提供更好的观测。美国宇航局和欧洲航天局都认识到这种天文台的科学重要性，他们正在考虑此类太空任务。然而，必要的技术和专业知识尚不可用，这项工作将为建立我们执行此类任务的能力做出巨大贡献。

项目成果

The Balloon Experimental Twin Telescope for infrared interferometry (BETTII): first flight

用于红外干涉测量的气球实验双望远镜（BETTII）：首次飞行

• DOI: 10.1117/12.2311497
• 发表时间: 2018
• 作者: Savini G

Advancing toward far-infrared interferometry in space through coordinated international efforts

通过国际协调努力推进空间远红外干涉测量

• DOI: 10.1117/12.2024432
• 发表时间: 2013
• 作者: Leisawitz D

The Balloon Experimental Twin Telescope for Infrared Interferometry (BETTII): An Experiment for High Angular Resolution in the Far-Infrared

用于红外干涉测量的气球实验双望远镜（BETTII）：远红外高角分辨率实验

• DOI: 10.1086/677402
• 发表时间: 2014
• 期刊: Publications of the Astronomical Society of the Pacific
• 影响因子: 3.5
• 作者: Rinehart S