1. SCAR AAA
2. Publications
3. Publications list
4. Publications for 1994
5. Infrared arrays on ice: New...

Publication
Infrared arrays on ice: New opportunities for astronomy in Antarctica

Harper, D. A., 1994, Experimental Astronomy, 3, 85 | View on ADS (1994ExA.....3...85H) | Access via DOI

Abstract

The purpose of the Center for Astrophysical Research in Antarctica is to establish and operate an astrophysical observatory at the South Pole. The advent of low-noise array detectors was a major motivation for the Center. As detectors approach fundamental limits of sensitivity, it is crucial to use them at the best possible observing sites. Instruments deployed at the South Pole will be able to take advantage of the cold, dry conditions which make the Antarctic Plateau the best site on Earth for observations at infrared and submillimeter wavelengths. Center projects will study the spatial structure of the cosmic microwave background radiation, galaxy formation in the early Universe, star and planet formation, and the physics of the interstellar medium. Initial instruments will include a 60 cm telescope and near-infrared camera, an automated 1.7m telescope for mapping submillimeter line radiation from the Milky Way and nearby galaxies, and a pair of specialized telescopes which use arrays of millimeter-wavelength detectors to image the cosmic microwave background radiation at spatial scales between approximately one-quarter and twenty degrees. Later, larger telescopes will be built, allowing a larger variety of astronomical investigations, greater sensitivity to small and distant sources, and access by a larger community of users.