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Theory in Australia’s Astronomical Facilities

Explore the role of theoretical astrophysics in Australian astronomical facilities, from conception to operation. Review past achievements, discuss challenges and opportunities for the next decade. Propose educational initiatives and funding models to enhance the integration of theory with observational facilities.

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Theory in Australia’s Astronomical Facilities

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  1. Theory in Australia’s Astronomical Facilities Facilities WG Meeting 2005 Decadal Review

  2. Integration Deeply involved throughout life cycle of major observational facilities/instruments Before construction • What do we really want to build? • Science case in Aust context After construction • Maximise scientific impact • Interpret data & fertilise “big” ideas

  3. Overseas Before construction • Theory routinely involved in inspiring science drivers and designs of major facilities • NGST (Loeb, Blandford), Chandra (Bildsten) After construction • Theorists and observers live side-by-side in facility-related science institutes • STScI, ESO (counterexample: NRAO)

  4. Past Decade: Case Studies • mm ATCA:- small natural community doing star formation/ISM science in Aust • Gemini:- big physics questions? “Few” nights → small, smart, physics-driven experiments • 2dF:- brilliant project… but disproportionate theoretical interpretation overseas Engineering + science drivers in tandem

  5. Next Decade: Opportunities I SKA/NTD/… • Epoch of reionisation (Wyithe, Gibson) • ISM (Melrose, Macquart, Wardle) • Pulsars (Melatos, Melrose, Luo) • AGN (Bicknell, Donea, Kuncic, Sutherland) ELT/Antarctic/… • Planets (Mardling, Maddison, Sackett, Asplund, • Galaxy evolution (Bekki, Lewis, Gibson, Dopita, Sutherland, Wyithe)

  6. Next Decade: Opportunities II mm ATCA: • Star formation (Wardle, Murray, Maddison) ACIGA/PTA/… • Gravitational wave source astrophysics (Scott, Lun, Levin, Melatos) Auger/… • Particle astrophysics (Protheroe, Donea, Volkas)

  7. Cost Before construction • Approximately zero – WG volunteers! After construction • Sensible fraction of science component of facility/instrument operating budget • ATNF science/total ≈18 / 145 • Bolton & other fellowships open to theorists

  8. Challenge for Decadal Review Secure ongoing operational & science funding hand-in-hand with funds for capital facilities • Structural contradiction at present • “Beefed up” ATNF model (STScI, ESO) • CoEs nice but too small – what % needed to secure science payoff from a $100M+ facility?

  9. Computational Astrophysics • Resources wish-list – still needs to be done • Some incorporation into national facilities • APAC model financially smart (community does not bear maintenance and depreciation) • Grid 3 – disburse funds to develop software & services, then APAC houses it Special theory needs • Theory portal in Aust Virtual Observatory • “Career death” for coders (“instrument builders”)

  10. Special Contributions & Needs Proactive vs reactive • Theory not just the “handmaiden of data” – predictive role in advance of data → inspire science goals for new instruments & facilities Education • Branding – “PhD Australia” – consistent (astro)physics knowledge across Aust PhDs • Remote learning (Access Grid), “Harley Wood” schools → build “knowledge resources”

  11. Specific Proposal: Astro School • “Residential” and “by correspondence” • Take-away “what you need to know” notes, e.g. refs to chapters in “classic texts” • Contact emails for Aust experts in subfields • Structure around big questions? • Cosmology (CMB theory), galaxy evolution (grav & fluid dynamics), star and planet formation (radiative transfer, MHD), high-energy astrophysics (shocks, accretion, jets) • Cost = $100k preparing materials + $50k p.a. ?

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