Astronomical Research and Technical Support of Millimeter- Wavelength VLBI

抽象的ast - 9420460。毫米波超长基线干涉测量（VLBI）在天文学中达到了最高的角分辨率——通常在3毫米时为50微弧秒，在1毫米时为20微弧秒。只有这样的分辨率才能开始揭示与活动星系核（如类星体和BL Lacertids）的巨大中心引擎相关的紧凑天体物理结构，并且只有在毫米波长下才能最大限度地减少连续体VLBI由于星际等离子体散射和光学深度效应的固有局限性。毫米波段也有丰富的分子脉泽，其结构只能通过VLBI来分辨。这份为期三年的合同将为“协调mm-VLBI阵列”（CMVA）的形成和运行提供支持。CMVA将以统一的调度、支持和分析基础设施取代以前在该领域的临时工作，使所有天文学家都可以使用毫米波VLBI，而不仅仅是那些技术专家。CMVA将由一个由毫米波天文台组成的核心小组组成，他们同意每年为VLBI提供大约两周的时间；另外一组设施将在每个提案的基础上提供时间。CMVA将由干草堆天文台管理。它也是CMVA的核心机构之一。Haystack将协调来自天文学界的毫米波VLBI提案的征集和审查，并将协调调度、硬件和磁带分配以及缺席时的数据关联；它还将提供必要的技术支持，使CMVA可靠和功能齐全，将向各种CMVA站点提供两个数据采集系统，并将继续开发先进的VLBI仪器。＊＊＊

ABSTRACT AST-9420460. Rogers, Alan E. Millimeter-wavelength very long baseline interferometry (VLBI) achieves the highest angular resolution in astronomy--typically 50 microarcseconds at 3mm and 20 microarcseconds at 1mm. Only such resolutions can begin to reveal the compact astrophysical structures associated with the massive central engines of active galactic nuclei such as quasars and BL Lacertids, and only at millimeter wavelengths does one minimize the inherent limitations of continuum VLBI due to scattering by the interstellar plasma and optical depth effects. The millimeter band is also rich in molecular masers whose structure can only be resolved by VLBI. This three year award will provide support to form and operate a "Coordinated mm-VLBI Array" (CMVA). Replacing previous ad-hoc efforts in this field by a the unified scheduling, support and analysis infrastructure, the CMVA will make mm-wave VLBI available to all astronomers, not just those who are experts in the technique. The CMVA will consist of a core group of mm-wave observatories who have agreed to make approximately two weeks per year available for VLBI; an additional group of facilities will make time available on a per-proposal basis. The CMVA will be managed out of the Haystack Observatory. which is also one of the CMVA's core institutions. Haystack will coordinate the solicitation and review of mm-wave VLBI proposals from the astronomical community, and will coordinate scheduling, hardware and tape allocation, as well as in absentia data correlation; it will also provide the technical support necessary to make the CMVA reliable and fully functional, will loan two data acquisition systems to various CMVA sites, and will continue to develop advanced VLBI instrumentation. ***