Astrophysics from Antarctica Introduction to the workshop

1. Astrophysics from AntarcticaIntroduction to the workshop N. Epchtein CNRS, Laboratoire H. Fizeau & UNS, Nice on behalf of the ARENA and PLT consortia « The pessimist sees the problems in every opportunity. Whereas the optimist sees the opportunity in every problem » Winston Churchill Workshop_AAA_14/15 sept_2011

2. Aims of the workshop • review results and status of French/European/Chinese/Australian projects at Concordia and Kunlun • update conclusions of the ARENA roadmap • discuss possible future collaborations with China • international status of Astronomy in Antarctica (AAA) • merging PILOT-PLT-KDUST (a renewed roadmap) • What can we expct form EC FP in the future? • Future actions Workshop_AAA_14/15 sept_2011

3. Prospects in European Antarctic Astronomy (according to ASTRONET, 2008) ASTRONET (Infrastructure roadmap recommendations)(Liverpool 2008) • Antarctica: great potential for optical/ infrared/millimetre observations (extreme cold, very low water vapour, highly stable atmosphere and the long uninterrupted winter night ) • Potential of the Franco-Italian Concordia winter-over base at Dome C is under study by the EC funded coordination activity Antarctic Research, a European Network for Astrophysics (ARENA) • Roadmap from the current small national and bilateral projects (e.g., the International Robotic Antarctic Infrared Telescope [IRAIT] 80-cm IR telescope), through medium-scale facilities to fully validate the potential of the site on a 5–10-year timescale (e.g., a 2–3 m wide-field/high resolution optical/IR telescopeand/or a 10 m submillimetre telescope), up to large facilities (e.g., an 8 m-class telescope or a large optical/ IR interferometric array) in the more distant future. (…) Workshop_AAA_14/15 sept_2011

4. Prospects Antarctic Astronomy (ARENA-2009) The Antarctic Instruments supported by ARENA Workshop_AAA_14/15 sept_2011

5. Why doing Astronomy from Antarctica? • Antarctica is by far the best place on the Earth for thermal IR and submillimetre-wave observations • Few appropriate stations: AS (S.Pole), Domes A, C, F, Vostok. • France and Italy are at the forefront of Antarctic research with the Concordia station (see talk C. David) • Long practice of polar logistics (IPEV-ENEA) • Site qualification of Dome C: (talk E. Fossat) • ~10-year investigations (seeing, turbulence, meteo..) • International collaboration (France-Italy-Australia) • 6 winterovers(~15 persons) since 2005 • New active challengers: China at Kunlun station (see Physics Today, Jan. 2011) (talk. C. Tao) • Very positive prospects, supported by the European Commission: • ASTRONET (European Prospect, 2008) • ARENA (Antarctic Roadmap, 2009)  3 volumes Procs.EDP EAS Ser. vol. 25, 33, 40; conclusions et recommendations (jan. 2010) • dead end ? Concordia, Dome F, Amundsen-Scott, Kunlun (C-STAR) Workshop_AAA_14/15 sept_2011

6. The challenges of astronomy in Antarctica • Is Antarctica really appropriate? • Which science really needs Polar conditions? • CMB (South Pole, QUBIC...) • Time domain exploration at all scales from minutes to years • Deep broad band IR survey, particularly the 2-4 µm range ( dark energy/dark matter) • HAR • Submillimeter? (200 µm!) • Which instruments/mission are suitable/feasible? • simple, robust, reliable, highly automatized and complementary to large top priority projects (LSST, E-ELT, JWST, EUCLID, WFIRST…) • Synergy with LSST is essential (time domain exploration). Create alerts and respond to alerts of transients. • Do not underestimate resources requested and time of development (10 year at least for PLT) • Which site? • Dome C is not the only suitable site in Antarctica. Dome A, others... but... • A comparative qualification of the different sites (same instruments, same calibrations….) is highly desirable Workshop_AAA_14/15 sept_2011

7. Antarctica is also a unique platform to carry out R&D in the fields of: • new technologies operating in extreme environment (optics, mechanics, electronics…) • ex: Adaptive optics for ground layer (GLAO) • mechanical structure and optics , thermalization.... • clean energy production; • logistics: heavy transportation to remote spots • high speed telecommunications in desert areas • human resilience to long range isolation, hostile/remote environment (ESA) Workshop_AAA_14/15 sept_2011

8. Science in a chaotic world • a top priority of astrophysics in the next decade : the nature of Dark Matter and Energy • Requires ‘big science’ (billion to multi billions projects). • Next major ground projects in optical/IR astronomy: E-ELT,, JWST ca. 2016-2020  30’; in space: WFIRST, EUCLID... • Big science is at threat because of chaotic economical/financial context (see JWST) • Less big: mega-surveys and time domain exploration (2017  2025): • technological progress: 100’s Mpxls  Gpxls (computer capabilities) • Time domain exploration ((from minutes to years) • From the ground: VISTA (near IR), Pan-STARRS (visible) , LSST (visible), • In space: WFIRST, EUCLID, GAIA… • Antarctica is an option • In 2010: conceptual Design Study of a PLT aimed at a new generation of Large scale deep surveys in the (2.3-5µm) range Workshop_AAA_14/15 sept_2011

9. A new deal... • Two major facts MUST be taken into account: • the world wide and long standing « economical/financial  crisis » • the raise-up and explosion of « emergent countries » • THUS • making long term prospects in a rapidly changing and uncertain world is a new challenge (notably for « big » science) • Big projects must now foresee plans B and not just « descoping» • No big or even middle-size project can be made without the participation of «emergent countries». Workshop_AAA_14/15 sept_2011

10. national support tried and failed • EC support...tried, networked and further steps failed • Next hope: world-wide consortium including China from Nature 1 sept. 2011 Workshop_AAA_14/15 sept_2011

11. the 2.5-m optical/IR Kunlun Dark Universe Survey Telescope (KDUST) and the 5-m Dome A Terahertz Explorer (DATE) are among the highest priorities of the Chinese astronomical community and have gotten good reviews from the Chinese Academy of Sciences. • A decision on funding by the Chinese government was imminent as PHYSICS TODAY went to press. “they are unlikely to die.” (Lifan Wang) • Starting small, aiming large: First up for China, though, is a trio of 50-cm optical telescopes, the Antarctic Schmidt Telescopes (AST3). • Epchtein says, it’s not a good idea to have such similar projects as KDUST and PLT at two sites in Antarctica. “At a certain point, it will be useful to discuss this issue worldwide » Physics Today, January 2011 Workshop_AAA_14/15 sept_2011

12. what can we expect now? • no large/medium size project is on the track now • National agencies (Australia, France, Italy...)have failed • Europe has failed • Let us « admit it frankly » • « It is common sense to take a method and try it: If it fails, admit it frankly and try another. But above all, try something. » (Franklin D. Roosvelt) • What can we try, now? open question, but set up a unique consortium to define project including Europe-China-Australia-USA? (and let us keep the AAA ranking !) Workshop_AAA_14/15 sept_2011

13. suggestions for to morrow’s open discussion • toward a common international policy to manage antarctic astronomy (role of AAA) • consensus on a mid-size project (PILOT/PLT/KDUST)  concept, management... • how to enhance AAA action in Europe? • how to motivate scientific community ? • how can we compare the qualities of each polar site (actions, data access, modeling) • synergies with   LSST/ EUCLID.... E-ELT/JWST • how to foster international exchange (China-Europe-Australia) -  (scientists, pdoc, winter over staff)? • actions toward national and international agencies , lobbying (EC) • actions toward policy makers (emabassies, ministries , regional, national, international ...) • set up and foster an international industrial consortium (PILOT/PLT/KDUST) • Pipeline: how to deal with massive data coming from Antarctica (e.g. role of CC-IN2P3)? • improve working conditions at Dome C (transport, telecom, energy yield, robotisation) • Outreach (all targets) • convince agencies of the real advantages of Antarctica • set up a common website • IAU Symp 288 • publish (which form?) the outcome of this meeting • other actions to foster Workshop_AAA_14/15 sept_2011

14. Acknowledgements • Thanks to • the ARENA consortium members (2006-2009) • the PLT consortium members (2010) • the staff of the Concordia station • the IPEV directorship for its support • the CPPM for hosting the workshop • Charling Tao, André Tilquin and Lyu Abe for encouraging and contributing to the organization of the workshop • Angélique Pepe for its practical organization Workshop_AAA_14/15 sept_2011