Winterizing an infrared radiometer for deployment at Dome C, Antarctica

这项NSERC SRO拨款，连同我们与赫茨伯格天体物理研究所和新南威尔士大学（UNSW）的合作，将使我们能够改进测量大气水蒸气的仪器，使其能够在南极冬季的极端寒冷中运行。IRMA（毫米天文红外辐射计）项目已经建造了几台仪器，目前正在世界上一些最大的望远镜上使用。这些装置精确地测量望远镜上方大气中的水蒸气含量。地球大气中的水蒸气会影响人们试图测量的信号（来自恒星、星系等）。大气中水蒸气的变化对天文测量的影响在红外波段最为深远，严重影响了观测的质量。因此，新望远镜的选址过程包括仔细测量水蒸气的数量（和其他参数），以确保选择最佳的可能位置。目前世界上大多数主要的天文台都位于夏威夷、特内里费岛和智利的几个地点，这些地点已被证明具有出色的观测特征。然而，迄今为止，有一个地方在天文学上的应用有限，那就是南极大陆。它的位置既高又非常干燥，这应该是天文学的理想条件。天文学家直到最近才开始尝试描述这些地点的特征，以便为未来的巨型望远镜确定最佳地点。新南威尔士大学开创了这种场地特征。他们在澳大利亚建造了一个自动化现场测试实验室（AASTINO），可以放置在南极大陆的任何地方，并远程运行一年，提供自己的电力和通信。这项NSERC SRO拨款将使我们能够将IRMA添加到AASTINO现有的仪器套件中。为了做到这一点，我们必须对IRMA进行广泛的修改，使其能够在南极的冬季生存和运行，其中包括修改许多机械部件，使其能够在零下85摄氏度的温度下运动。IRMA将在2006年冬季之前连接到位于“圆顶C”的AASTINO上。

This NSERC SRO grant together with our collaboration with the Hertzberg Institute of Astrophysics and the University of New South Wales (UNSW), will allow us to modify an instrument for measuring atmospheric water vapour so that it will operate in the extreme cold of an Antarctic winter. The IRMA (Infrared Radiometer for Millimetre Astronomy) project has built several instruments that are currently in use at some of the world's largest telescopes. These units accurately measure the water vapour content in the atmosphere above the telescopes. Water vapour in the earth's atmosphere affects the very signals (from stars, galaxies etc) that one is trying to measure. The impact of variations in atmospheric water vapour on astronomical measurements is most profound at infrared wavelengths seriously impacting the quality of the observations that can be made. As such, the site selection process for new telescopes involves careful measuring of the amounts of water vapour (and other parameters) to ensure that the best possible location is chosen. Most of the worlds' current major observatories are located at just a few sites in Hawaii, Tenerife and Chile, which have been shown to have excellent observing characteristics. However, one location that has thus far seen limited use for astronomy is the Antarctic continent. This has locations that are both high and extremely dry which should lead to almost ideal conditions for astronomy. Astronomers have only recently started trying to characterise these sites in order to determine the best ones for future giant telescopes. This site characterisation has been pioneered by UNSW. They have cons an Australian tructed an automated site testing laboratory (AASTINO) that can be placed anywhere on the Antarctic continent and run remotely for one year, providing its own power and communications. This NSERC SRO grant will enable us to add IRMA to the AASTINO's existing suite of instruments. In order to do this, we have to make extensive modifications to IRMA so that it can survive and operate in an Antarctic winter which involves modifying many mechanical parts to allow movement at temperatures down to -85C. IRMA will be attached to the AASTINO at 'Dome C' in time for the 2006 winter.