Imaging the Far-Infrared Astrophysical Universe

远红外天体物理宇宙成像

• 批准号: RGPIN-2015-03659
• 负责人: Spencer, Locke
• 金额: $ 1.6万
• 依托单位: University of Lethbridge
• 依托单位国家: 加拿大
• 项目类别: Discovery Grants Program - Individual
• 财政年份: 2020
• 资助国家: 加拿大
• 起止时间: 2020-01-01 至 2021-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/ase-oro/Details-Detailles_eng.asp?id=707981
• 关键词: Imaging; Far; Infrared; Astrophysical; Universe

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.

我最近回到加拿大，担任加拿大实验天体物理学研究主席（CRC），建立一个试验平台，探索与远红外（FIR）波长的空间/光谱干涉测量相关的挑战。这被广泛认为是导致FIR成像光谱学下一个重大进步的技术。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，其中大部分是不透明的地面站点需要星载仪器。欧洲航天局的普朗克和赫歇尔望远镜最近提供了FIR中第一个不受约束的宇宙视图。他们重新定义了当前的天体物理学，包括银河系和河外源，以尽可能远的光子。赫歇尔，其3.5米直径的主镜，也强调了“FIR差距”，即显着较差的角分辨率和灵敏度在FIR相比，所提供的设施在这一频谱的任何一边。许多赫歇尔发现正在等待增强的空间分辨率后续观测，以解决这个新的宇宙窗口中提出的问题。在FIR社区内，冷却孔径和干涉测量被确定为两个FIR路线图优先事项。 日本领导的宇宙学和天体物理学空间红外望远镜（SPICA）是下一代赫歇尔望远镜。由于主镜的尺寸与赫歇尔相似，并且工作波长略短，SPICA的空间分辨率将略优于赫歇尔。由于其主镜主动冷却，以及更灵敏的探测器，SPICA的灵敏度预计将超过赫歇尔100倍。为了大幅度提高空间分辨率，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开发基于实验室的FIR干涉测量测试平台，但它有助于FIR路线图的许多方面，包括利用当前的结果和设施，以及与未来实验，设施和观测站的合作。FIR干涉测量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一个基础机会。这项工作在加拿大和世界范围内是独一无二的，补充了当地和国际上现有的研究网络，将加强现有和预期的国际合作，并将通过动手组合为许多学生和研究人员提供培训仪器，技术，技术和数据处理的发展在参与国际合作的广阔前景。