High Elevation Antarctic Terahertz (HEAT) telescopes for Dome A and Ridge A

基于国家科学基金会资助的高海拔南极太赫兹（HEAT）望远镜的设计研究及其在Dome A的原型成功部署，该提案寻求资助在南极高原最高位置（中国夏季站昆仑以南约200公里的山脊A）建立一个全自动的0.6米太赫兹天文观测台进行远程操作。HEAT望远镜将覆盖158至372微米波段，观测来自银河系的最亮光谱线，其中最关键的天体物理光谱诊断是星系，恒星，行星，该望远镜将安装在澳大利亚新南威尔士大学的PLATO天文台的顶部该模块为仪器的电子设备和柴油发动机提供外壳，用于在冬季观测期间产生电力。PLATO和望远镜将自动运行一年多，每天通过Iridium卫星接收和发送来自/发送到家庭机构的命令和数据。预计在冬季的大部分时间里，HEAT将在200微米以上的波段看到良好的大气传输，而在关键的160微米窗口中的可用传输将在冬季的10%以上看到。山脊A的位置是未开发的，但实际上可能是圆顶A峰会上最干燥，最平静，最清晰的点。因此，拟议中的望远镜将测试这个网站，同时获得重要的天文光谱数据和锻造全新的地基红外和亚毫米天文学能力，否则将无法实现，除非通过昂贵的机载或天基平台。这一开创性的使命将为未来从南极高原和世界各地其他潜在的高海拔地点进行天文调查铺平道路。拟议的项目有助于培养一名研究生，从而有助于培养天文学领域的一代年轻研究人员。

Based on the NSF-funded design study of the High Elevation Antarctic Terahertz (HEAT) telescope and successful deployment of its prototype at Dome A, this proposal seeks funding to build a fully automated, 0.6-meter THz astronomical observatory for remote operation at the highest location on the Antarctic Plateau (Ridge A, ~200 km south of the Chinese summer station Kunlun). The HEAT telescope will cover the 158 to 372 microns band observing the brightest spectral lines from the Milky Way Galaxy in which the most crucial astrophysical spectral diagnostics of the formation of galaxies, stars, planets, and life are found. The telescope will be mounted on top of the Australian University of New South Wales' PLATeau Observatory (PLATO) module that provide housing for the instrument's electronics and diesel engines used to generate electrical power during winter observations. The PLATO and telescope will operate autonomously for over a year at a time, with commands and data being received and transmitted from/to the home institutions via Iridium satellites daily. It is expected that HEAT will see good atmospheric transmission above the 200-microns band during much of the winter, and usable transmission in the pivotal 160 microns window will be seen for more than 10% of the wintertime. The Ridge A site is undeveloped but may actually be the driest, calmest, and clearest point on the Dome A summit. Thus, the proposed telescope will test this site while obtaining important astronomical spectral data and forging entirely new capabilities for ground-based infrared and submillimeter astronomy that otherwise would be unachievable except via expensive airborne or space-based platforms. This pioneering mission will pave the way for future astronomical investigations from the Antarctic Plateau and other potential high-altitude sites around the World. The proposed project contributes to the education of a graduate student, thus helping to grow a generation of young researchers in the field of astronomy.