RUI: A Wide-Angle H-alpha Survey of the Southern Hemisphere Sky

在656.3 nm波长的氢的h - α发射线频率上对南方天空进行广角成像调查。观测的角分辨率约为1弧分，灵敏度为1瑞利，对应于2 cm-6 pc的发射测量，30 Ghz微波自由发射的亮度温度为6微开尔文。用于观测辐射的系统将是一个电荷耦合器件（CCD）、一个商用相机镜头和安装在机器人望远镜上的窄带干涉滤光片。这台机器人望远镜将被部署在智利的塞罗·托洛洛美洲天文台。该项目将需要大约一年的观测时间。这项调查的结果将使我们能够精确测量银河系中氢在微波波长下的自由-自由辐射的波动（或者提供这些辐射可以忽略不计的证据）。这种发射必须从宇宙微波背景的卫星或地面测量中减去，以获得真正的微波宇宙背景波动。这次调查将产生关于星际介质中弥漫的、温暖的、电离成分的结构的详细信息，这些信息对于理解星际气体的物理性质是必要的。几名本科生参与研究项目将增强他们对科学研究本质的理解。＊＊＊

9529057 Gaustad A wide-angle imaging survey of the southern sky at the frequency of the H-alpha emission line of Hydrogen at a wavelength of 656.3 nm will be carried out. The angular resolution of the observations will be about one arcminute, and to a sensitivity level of one Rayleigh, corresponding to an emission measure of 2 cm-6 pc, and to a brightness temperature for microwave free-free emission of 6 microKelvin at 30 Ghz. The system to be used to observe the radiation will be a Charge- Coupled Device (CCD), a commercial camera lens, and narrow-band interference filters, mounted on a robotic telescope. The robotic telescope will be deployed at the Cerro Tololo Inter-American Observatory in Chile. The project will require approximately one year of observing time. The results from the survey will allow accurate measurements of fluctuations in the Galactic free-free emission from Hydrogen at microwave wavelengths (or provide proof that these emissions are negligible). This emission must be subtracted from satellite or ground-based measurements of the cosmic microwave background to obtain the true microwave cosmic background fluctuations. The survey will produce detailed information on the structure of the diffuse, warm, ionized component of the interstellar medium, information which is necessary for understanding the physical properties of the interstellar gas. Participation by several undergraduate students in the research project will enhance their understanding of the nature of scientific research. ***