The thirty meter telescope project

三十米望远镜将是21世纪具有里程碑意义的科学设施之一。它将有助于描述太阳系外行星的性质，帮助确定加速宇宙膨胀的暗能量的性质，跟踪形成恒星、星系和行星的过程，并通过研究黑洞和大爆炸期间盛行的物理力，为基础物理学的发展做出贡献。TMT伙伴关系由加州理工学院、加州大学、AURA(美国国家光学天文台和太空望远镜科学研究所的运营商)和Acura(一个由21所加拿大大学组成的从事天体物理研究的新协会)组成。该项目已为详细设计阶段(DDP)筹集了6400万美元，该阶段于2003年启动，2009年结束，项目进入建设阶段。加拿大通过在该项目中占有25%的份额，在知识和工业方面建立了强大的地位。这份提案要求DDP的第二期也是最后一期，连同NRC的匹配资金和CFI、安大略省和BC的现有资金，我们将能够履行我们的承诺，完成我们的设计工作份额，并开始从我们参与这个令人兴奋的项目中获益。基础广泛的资金支持和大学的直接参与反映了大学对其在指导这一项目中的作用的重视。该提案要求在2006-07、07-08、08-09和09-10四个财政年度各拨款600万美元和150万美元。理想的情况是，资金将在每年尽快到位，使我们能够保持一个顺利的合同进程。

The Thirty Meter Telescope will be one of the landmark science facilities of the 21st century. It will allow the characterization of the properties of extra-solar planets, help determine the nature of dark energy that is speeding up the expansion of the universe, follow the processes that form stars, galaxies and planets, and contribute to the advance of fundamental physics through the study of black holes and the physical forces that prevailed during the Big Bang. The TMT partnership is composed of Caltech, the University of California, AURA (operator of the US National Optical Astronomical Observatories and the Space Telescope Science Institute) and ACURA (a new association of 21 Canadian universities that undertake astrophysical research). The project has raised US$64M for the Detailed Design Phase (DDP), initiated in 2003 and ending in 2009 as the project moves into construction. Canada has established a strong intellectual and industrial position through its 25% share of the project. This proposal requests the second and final installment of the DDP, which along with matchng funds from NRC and pre-existing funding from CFI, Ontario and BC will allow us to meet our commitments to complete our share of the design work and begin to reap the benefits of our engagement in this exciting project. The broadly based funding support and direct university engagement reflect the importance that universities attach to their role in guiding this project. The proposal requests a total of $6,000,000 with $1,500,000 in each of the four fiscal years 2006-07, 07-08, 08-09, and 09-10. Ideally the funds will be made available as soon as possible in each year to allow us to maintain a smooth contracting process.