Astronomical Studies with the Caltech Submillimeter Observatory

AST-9313929。加州理工学院。该奖项支持加州理工大学亚毫米天文台(CSO)的研究、技术开发和学生教育。天文台由一个10.4米高的精密天线组成，该天线位于夏威夷莫纳克亚山顶附近的圆顶内。CSO的任务是对波长范围为1毫米-350米的天文天体进行光谱和连续观测；地球大气对这些波长的辐射的不透明度是天文台位于近4,300米高度的原因。天文台是在1984-1987年间用国家科学基金会(NSF)的资金建造的。在撰写本文时，它是目前唯一能够在整个亚毫米大气窗口运行的美国设施。在接下来的三年里，CSO将继续研究银河系和其他星系中星际介质的物理和化学。这项研究将主要通过光谱线测量、寻找新的氢化物分子和观察主要的星际云冷却线，特别是原子碳的冷却线来进行。计划的技术发展包括安装斩波式二次反射器、新的馈电支腿和新的卡塞格伦光学系统，这将允许引入测辐射热计和SIS焦平面阵列接收器。***

AST-9313929. California Institute of Technology. PI: T. G. Phillips Astronomical Studies with the Caltech Submillimeter Observatory This award supports research, technological development and student education at the Caltech Submillimeter Observatory (CSO). The Observatory consists of a precision 10.4m antenna enclosed in a dome located near the summit of Mauna Kea, Hawaii. The CSO's mission is to carry out spectroscopic and continuum observations of astronomical objects in the wavelength range 1mm-350 m; the opacity of the Earth's atmosphere to radiation at these wavelengths is the reason for the observatory's location at an altitude of nearly 4,300m. The observatory was constructed with funds from the National Science Foundation (NSF) during the period 1984-1987. As of this writing, it is presently the only US facility capable of operations throughout the submillimeter atmospheric window. Over the next three years, the CSO will continue to study the physics and chemistry of the interstellar medium in the Milky Way and other galaxies. This research will be carried out primarily through spectral line surveys, searches for new hydride molecules and by observing major interstellar cloud cooling lines, notably those of atomic carbon. Planned technical developments include the installation of a chopping secondary reflector, new feed legs and new Cassegrain optics which will allow the introduction of bolometer and SiS focal plane array receivers. ***