Program Leader's Progress Report for Astronomy to the Antarctic Science Advisory Committee for the 2000-01 Antarctic Season

Dr John Storey, School of Physics, University of New South Wales

Goal 1 - Maintain the Antarctic Treaty System and Enhance Australia's Influence within the System.

Astronomy: Australian astronomers need to continue their activities with the Automated Astrophysical Site-Testing Observatory (AASTO) on the high plateau to influence future astronomical activities in Antarctica.

Australia is the host nation to the most promising potential sites (including Dome A and Dome C), and should lead the development of South Pole InfraRed Imaging Telescope (SPIRIT).

Key Scientific Outputs

Involvement in setting the direction of international scientific programs and forums relating to Antarctic issues, and contributing to their outcomes.

Research Output achieved against the strategic plan

Assessment Milestones

• Deployment of the complete suite of astronomical site testing instruments within the AASTO (2000)

This was completed in 2001 with the installation of SUMMIT (a 350 micron tipping radiometer).

• Continued collaboration with the USA in the South Pole InfraRed Explorer telescope project, participation in the USA-led Antarctic InfraRed Observatory telescope project, and development of the SPIRIT (Ongoing).

The SPIREX project is now run its course and been terminated. Australia continues to be a partner (albeit a small one) in the AIRO project. SPIRIT has been renamed 'The Douglas Mawson Telescope', and efforts to secure the necessary funding are continuing.

Major Research Output(s) completed in 2000-01 relating to previous seasons' activities

The most important result from the point of view of maintaining influence under the Treaty System has been the deployment of site testing instrumentation to the French-Italian Concordia Station at Dome C. This work has initiated an on-going collaboration between French, Italian and Australian astronomers, and could potentially lead to substantial Australian involvement in Concordia.

One of several major activities related to the submission of the Douglas Mawson Telescope MNRF proposal was the organisation of the Third International Workshop on Astrophysics at Dome C, held at the Antarctic Division in June 2001. This workshop brought together 35 leading astronomers and science administrators from 5 countries.

Research/Activities in the 2000-01 strategic plan NOT achieved and why

An MNRF application for funding for the Douglas Mawson Telescope was submitted in May 2001, but was unsuccessful. Alternative sources of funding are actively being sought.

Goal 4 - To Undertake Work of Practical, Economic and National Significance.

Astronomy: The development of instruments for Antarctic data collection is of direct relevance to the aerospace and satellite industries, and results in practical outcomes and economic benefit.

Key Scientific Outputs

Continue to contribute to international astronomical programs through the development of leading-edge instrumentation.

Assessment Milestones

· Finalise design for Antarctic InfraRed Observatory (AIRO) and South Pole Imaging Infra Red Telescope (SPIRIT) (2000-2001)

The AIRO design has been finalised by our US collaborators, but no funding source has yet been made available by the NSF. Detailed design of SPIRIT (now the DMT) is ongoing; however, the basic parameters have been established and a suitable manufacturer identified.

· Implement SPIRIT as separate project, or increase share of AIRO project to 50%

The prospect of increasing our share of AIRO remains small. SPIRIT (now DMT) is well established as a separate project, and funding is being actively sought.

In addition, Australian astronomers have been invited to play a role in the Italian IRAIT project, an 80 cm infrared telescope intended for deployment to Dome C.

· AIRO development and deployment: Telescope and Camera Construction (2001).AIRO Integration, Installation, and Testing at Anderson Mesa (2002-2003).AIRO deployment to South Pole. Initial observatory operations during the following Austral winter season (2004).

The AIRO project remains unfunded.

· Decide on viability of Australian participation in a major millimetre-wave observatory (2001).

Millimetre astronomy remains a relatively low priority amongst Australian astronomers. However, interest is building, particularly through the UNSW/CSIRO joint program to offer the Mopra mm-wave telescope to the community, the upgrade of the Australia Telescope to millimetre wavelengths. At this stage it appears unlikely that we will be significant partners in the proposed 6.5 metre mm telescope for South Pole.

· Explore opportunities for Australian participation in cosmic microwave background studies (2002).

Contribute to an improved understanding of the processes by which stars and galaxies are formed

Assessment Milestones

• Complete South Pole Infrared Explorer (SPIREX) observing programs on PAH features in NGC 6334 and Carina (2001).
• Completed. Papers published and in press.
• Complete SPIREX astronomical observations for Australian community, as per terms of MNRF grant (2001)
• Completed. Observing time was made available to Australian astronomers. Most of the nine proposals for observing time were accommodated.
• Begin production of high-sensitivity wide-field maps in the thermal infrared of chosen astronomical sources (2004).
• Explore the potential benefits of siting a next-generation (50-metre class) optical/IR telescope on the antarctic plateau (2003).

Research Output achieved against the strategic plan

Site characterisation.

NISM. The NISM has operated continuously throughout 2001 since early in the year, and has produced a wealth of data. The results are broadly in agreement with previous data from the IRPS and SPIREX, but are more comprehensive and represent a completely new, independent data set. Of particular importance is that the NISM is a fully autonomous, automated instrument that can be deployed to an unattended site.

SODAR. Upgraded software was installed in the SODAR during the 2000 - 2001 summer season, but was found to be unusable. The original software was re-installed and a new data set taken throughout 2001. Analysis of the 2000 data is proceeding well, with excellent correlations being found between wind speed, turbulence level, and other parameters.

ADIMM/G-mount. The G-mount was repaired during the 2000 - 2001 summer season, and has performed faultlessly throughout 2001. A large amount of seeing data has been acquired with the ADIMM, and is currently undergoing analysis. These data will also be compared to the SODAR data to provide a better understanding of the boundary-layer contribution to seeing.

Sub-mm tipper. The "AASTO" version of the 350-micron tipper ("SUMMIT") has been modified for low power consumption, and was deployed to Dome C during the 2000 - 2001 summer. Several weeks of excellent data were obtained from Dome C, making these the first sub-mm observations from that site. SUMMIT was subsequently installed on the roof of the AASTO at South Pole.

Icecam. A low-power, battery operated sky-camera has been left at Dome C throughout 2001. The purpose of this experiment is to quantify the extent of cloud cover at that site through the winter months.

TEG replacement. The Thermo-electric generator in the AASTO has proved to be a continuing source of unreliability. During 2001 alternative power sources were explored, and a decision made to purchase a Stirling engine from Whispertech in New Zealand. This unit not only produces substantially more power than the TEG (750 versus 50 watts), but is also able to run on JP-8 and Jet-A1 fuel - greatly simplifying the annual service requirements. A unit is curently under test at the University of New South Wales.

Major Research Output(s) completed in 2000-01 relating to previous seasons' activities

The major scientific results include sub-mm data from Dome C, new near IR data from South Pole, and new seeing measurements from South Pole.

Research/Activities in the 2000-01 strategic plan NOT achieved and why

The unreliability of the AASTO thermo-electric generator continues to be a problem. We are currently testing a Whispertech Stirling engine with a view to replacing the TEG during the 2001 - 2002 season.

General Comment

Australia astronomers continue to play the leading role in demonstrating the benefits to astronomy of siting large telescopes on the Antarctic plateau. However, unless Australian funding for these telescopes can be obtained - either on own own or in partnership with other nations- we are unlikely to reap the full benefit of this work.

The development by the French and Italians of the new Concordia station at Dome C is potentially of great importance to Australian astronomers. A major goal of the astronomical program is to build a 2-metre telescope at Dome C. This would bring with it the prospect of close Australian involvement in the new station

Research Output for Astronomy Program published in 2000

Refereed papers

Chamberlain, M.A., Ashley, M.C.B., Burton, M.G., Phillips, A., Storey, J.W.V. & Harper, D.A., 'Mid-infrared observing conditions at the South Pole', 2000. Ap. J., 535, 501-511.

Burton, M.G., Ashley, M.C.B., Marks, R.D., Schinckel, A.E., Storey, J.W.V., Fowler, A., Merrill, M., Sharp, N., Gatley, I., Harper, A., Loewenstein, R., Mrozek, F., Jackson, J. & Kraemer, K. 'High resolution imaging of photodissociation regions in NGC 6334', 2000. Ap. J., 542, 359-366.

Hidas, M.G., Burton, M.G., Chamberlain. M.A. & Storey, J.W.V., 'Infrared and sub-millimetre sky brightness on the Antarctic plateau', 2000. Pub. Ast. Soc. Aust., 17, 260-269.

Brooks, K.J., Burton, M.G., Rathborne, J.M., Ashley, M.C.B. & Storey, J.W.V., 'Unlocking the Keyhole-H2 and PAH emission from molecular clumps in the Keyhole Nebula', 2000. M.N.R.A.S., 319, 95-102.

Unrefereed publications

Storey, J.W.V., Ashley, M.C.B. & Burton, M.G., 'Novel instruments for site characterization', 2000. In 'Astronomical telescopes and instrumentation 2000: optical and infrared telescope instrumentation and detectors', Proc. SPIE, 4008, 1376-1382. Ed. K. Bell.

Burton, M.G., Storey, J.W.V. & Ashley, M.C.B., 'Science goals for an Antarctic large infrared telescope', 2000. In 'Astronomical telescopes and instrumentation 2000: discoveries and research prospects from 8-10m class telescopes', Proc. SPIE, 4005, 326-332. Ed. K. Bell.