1 / 14

Astrophysics from Antarctica Introduction to the workshop

Join the workshop discussing results of European astronomy projects in Antarctica, merging of initiatives, and future collaborations.

miyokow
Download Presentation

Astrophysics from Antarctica Introduction to the workshop

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  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

More Related