A Joint Press Release by
the US National Science Foundation (NSF) and
the European Southern Observatory (ESO)
NSF PR 99-42 - June 10, 1999
Media contact: |
Amber Jones,
National Science Foundation |
(703) 292-8070 |
aljones@nsf.gov |
Media contact: |
Richard M. West,
European Southern Observatory |
(011) 4989-32006276 |
rwest@eso.org
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Europe and U.S. to Collaborate on Design and Development
of a Giant Radio Telescope Project in Chile
High Goals for the Atacama Large
Millimeter Array (ALMA)
Representatives from the United States and Europe signed
an agreement today in Washington to continue collaboration
on the first phase of a giant new telescope project.
The telescope will image the universe with unprecedented
sensitivity and sharpness at millimeter wavelengths
(between the radio and infrared spectral regions).
It will be a major step for astronomy, making it possible
to study the origins of galaxies, stars and planets.
This project is a prime example of a truly global project,
an essential development in view of the ever-increasing
complexity and cost of front-line astronomical facilities.
The U.S. side of the project is run by the National
Radio Astronomy Observatory (NRAO), operated by Associated
Universities, Inc., under a cooperative agreement
with the National Science Foundation (NSF). The European
side of the project is a collaboration between the
European Southern Observatory (ESO), the Centre National
de la Recherche Scientifique, the Max-Planck Gesellschaft,
the Netherlands Foundation for Research in Astronomy
and Nederlandse Onderzoekschool Voor Astronomie, and
the United Kingdom Particle Physics and Astronomy
Research Council.
The Europe-U.S. agreement signed today may be formally
extended in the very near future to include Japan,
following an already existing tripartite declaration
of intent.
Robert Eisenstein, Ph.D., NSF's assistant director
for mathematical and physical sciences, called the
project "a path breaking international partnership
that will open far-reaching opportunities for astronomical
observations. This array would enable astronomers
to explore the detailed processes through which the
stars and planets form and give us a vastly improved
understanding of the formation of the first galaxies
in the very early universe." Eisenstein welcomed the
collaboration with Europe and Japan’s interest in
becoming a major partner.
Speaking on behalf of the European signatories, Prof.
Riccardo Giacconi, Director General, European Southern
Observatory (ESO), one of the signatories to the new
astronomy project, described the new project as "absolutely
fantastic and farsighted - a major ground-based astronomical
observatory for the 21st century. It will open up
a key region of the electromagnetic spectrum to study
the very early universe and the interstellar clouds
where the stars and planets are born."
The new telescope will be located in the Atacama Desert
of northern Chile and has been given the name ALMA,
for "Atacama Large Millimeter Array." The land has
been given in concession to the Chilean National Commission
for Science and Technology last year by the Ministerio
de Bienes Nacionales (Ministry of National Assets).
It has also been declared a national reserve for science
by President Eduardo Frei because of its unique capabilities
for astronomical research.
ALMA will be a revolutionary telescope, operating at
millimeter and submillimeter wavelengths and comprised
of an array of individual antennas each 12 meters
in diameter that work together to make precision images
of astronomical objects. The goal of the ALMA Project
is an array of 64 antennas that can be positioned
as needed over an area 10 kilometers in diameter so
as to give the array a zoom-lens capability.
Paul Vanden Bout, Ph.D., director of the U.S. NRAO,
emphasized the technical capabilities needed for the
array: "The ALMA Project involves development of a
variety of fundamental technologies including amplification
of faint cosmic signals using superconducting receivers
and ultrafast digital data processing, technologies
that will enhance many related areas of scientific
research."
The memorandum of understanding (MOU) commits the signatories
to collaborate in a three-year design and development
Phase 1. In the United States, an amount of U.S. $26
million has been approved for this phase, and in Europe,
DM 28 million (15 million EURO). Two prototype 12-meter
antennas will be constructed as part of Phase 1.
The MOU also commits the signatories to work toward
obtaining approval and all necessary funding for collaborative
participation in a 50-50 U.S.-European partnership
for the ALMA construction and operation phase (Phase
2).
It is hoped that full approval of the project can
be obtained by early 2001. Construction will then
take much of the decade, with limited operations to
begin in 2005 and the full array becoming operational
by 2009. The telescope will be jointly operated by
the United States and Europe for the benefit of their
respective scientific communities.
Japanese astronomers have also been working toward
a project of this kind, the Large Millimeter and Submillimeter
Array (LMSA), and have recently decided to merge the
LMSA in a collaboration with Europe and the United
States. Three-way meetings have already taken place,
and the Europe-U.S. MOU signed today may be formally
expanded to include Japan, offering the prospect of
an even more capable array.
The host state, Chile, has expressed the interest of
its scientific community to be substantially involved
in this project, and still other countries have indicated
a desire to join. ALMA may ultimately turn out to
become the first truly global astronomical project.
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