Imaging the Far-Infrared Astrophysical Universe

我最近以实验天体物理学加拿大研究主席(CRC)的身份回到加拿大，建立了一个试验台，用于探索与远红外(FIR)波长的空间/光谱干涉测量相关的挑战。这项技术被广泛认为将导致FIR成像光谱学的下一次重大进步。宇宙发射的能量有一半以上出现在相对未被探索的FIR光谱区域，其中大部分是地面站点不透明的，需要星载仪器。欧洲航天局的普朗克和赫歇尔望远镜最近在FIR中提供了第一个自由的宇宙景象。他们重新定义了当前的天体物理学，包括银河系和银河系外的源，到尽可能远的光子。拥有3.5米直径主镜的赫歇尔也强调了“FIR间隙”，即与光谱两边的设施提供的相比，FIR中的角分辨率和灵敏度明显较差。许多赫歇尔的发现都在等待增强的空间分辨率后续观测，以解决在这个新的宇宙窗口中提出的问题。在FIR领域，冷却光圈和干涉测量被确定为FIR路线图的两个优先事项。*日本领导的宇宙学和天体物理空间红外望远镜(SPICA)是下一代赫歇尔望远镜。有了与赫歇尔相似大小的主镜，在略短的波长下运行，角宿一的空间分辨率将略高于赫歇尔。随着主镜的主动冷却和更灵敏的探测器，Spica的灵敏度预计将超过赫歇尔的100倍。为了极大地提高空间分辨率，必须用干涉技术取代传统的成像技术。*虽然我的研究计划专注于基于实验室的FIR干涉测量试验台的开发，但它对FIR路线图的许多方面做出了贡献，包括利用现有的结果和设施，以及与未来的实验、设施和天文台合作。FIR干涉测量学的重点为莱斯布里奇大学(UL)天文仪器集团(AIG)开辟了一条新的研究途径，为成为未来一代天基FIR天文学的关键合作伙伴提供了基础机会。这项工作在加拿大和全世界都是独一无二的，补充了当地和国际上现有的研究网络，将加强现有的和预期的未来国际合作，并将在参与国际合作的广泛视角下，通过实践仪器、技术、技术和数据处理开发的组合，为许多学生和研究人员提供培训。**

I have recently returned to Canada as a Canada Research Chair (CRC) in experimental astrophysics to establish a testbed for exploring the challenges associated with spatial/spectral interferometry at Far-Infrared (FIR) wavelengths. This is widely regarded as the technology that will lead to the next major advance in FIR imaging spectroscopy. Over half of the energy emitted by the Universe appears in the relatively unexplored FIR spectral region, most of which is opaque from ground-based sites necessitating space-borne instrumentation. The European Space Agency Planck and Herschel telescopes have recently provided the first unfettered views of the universe in the FIR. They have redefined current astrophysics including galactic and extragalactic sources, to the most distant photons possible. Herschel, with its 3.5m diameter primary mirror, has also highlighted the "FIR gap", i.e. the dramatically poorer angular resolution and sensitivity in the FIR compared with that provided by facilities on either side of this spectrum. Many Herschel discoveries are waiting on enhanced spatial resolution follow-up observations to address the questions raised in this new window on the Universe. Within the FIR community, cooled apertures and interferometry are identified as two FIR roadmap priorities.****The Japanese-led Space Infrared Telescope for Cosmology and Astrophysics (SPICA) is the next-generation Herschel. With a primary mirror of similar size to Herschel and operating at slightly shorter wavelengths, SPICA will have marginally better spatial resolution than Herschel. With its primary mirror actively cooled, and more sensitive detectors, SPICA is expected to outperform Herschel in sensitivity by a factor of 100. To greatly improve spatial resolution, traditional imaging must be replaced by interferometric techniques.****While my research program is focused on the development of a lab-based FIR interferometry testbed, it contributes to many aspects of the FIR roadmap including the exploitation of current results and facilities, and collaboration with future experiments, facilities, and observatories. The FIR interferometry focus opens a new research avenue for the University of Lethbridge (UL) Astronomical Instrumentation Group (AIG), providing a ground floor opportunity to become a key partner in future-generation space-based FIR astronomy. This work is unique within Canada, and the world, complements the existing research network both locally and internationally, will fortify existing and anticipated international collaborations into the future, and will provide training to many students and researchers through a combination of hands-on instrumentation, technology, technique, and data processing developments within the broad perspective of participation in international collaborations.**