Pathways to Discovery in Astronomy and Astrophysics for the 2020s (2023) / Chapter Skim
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Appendix K: Report of the Panel on Optical and Infrared Observations from the Ground
Appendix K: Report of the Panel on Optical and Infrared Observations from the Ground
Pages 422-447
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From page 422... ...
observational facilities are central to addressing the most pressing and fundamental questions in astronomy and astrophysics, as assessed by the six science panels of the Astro2020 decadal survey.1 The importance of some of these questions transcends the boundaries of science: How did we get here? Are we alone?
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From page 423... ...
Last, the panel emphasizes the importance of modest strategic investments in technology development and software, and in the further development of the systems-level approach to optimizing the performance of the OIR system in an era of time-domain/multi-messenger astrophysics. For this plan to succeed, there needs to be a fundamental change in the way in which the federal, state, and private funding sources for ground-based OIR facilities interact.
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From page 424... ...
) for precision radial velocity measurements of exoplanets, thanks to an NSF/NASA partnership.
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and for interpreting studies of the planetary atmosphere, since the atmospheric scale height depends on a combination of surface National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, 2018, Exoplanet Science Strategy, The National Academies Press, 5 Washington, DC.
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The combination of light-gathering power and high angular resolution will enable the new ELTs to test these models. By measuring precise radial velocities and proper motions, it will be possible to construct maps of the 3D stellar orbits at dwarf galaxy centers to map the radial distribution of dark matter to thereby determine whether self-interacting dark matter is required.
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the impact of the assembly history of galaxies and dark matter (DM) halos on their observable properties; and (5)
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K.2.4 A Stellar Renaissance Over the past 15 years, the solar and stellar astrophysics community has ignited a scientific renaissance through a remarkable investment in facilities for global synoptic and high-resolution solar observations, extreme-precision stellar radial velocity, and milliarcsecond imaging of nearby stars, as well as ultrawidefield surveys focused on high-precision position measurements, high-cadence time-domain measurements, medium-resolution optical-IR spectroscopy, and multi-band precision photometry. Ground-based OIR facilities have played, and will continue to play, the central role.
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ELT program uniting GMT, TMT, and NOIRLab. K.3.2 The Science Case In Section K.2, the panel described four broad areas at the scientific frontier where the next generation of ground-based OIR facilities are most essential and explicitly identified there the need for ELTs, from the search for life on distant planets, to the births and lives of galaxies, to the fundamental physics of the cosmos.
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Q4. How do the histories of galaxies and their dark matter halos shape their observable properties?
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The largest concerns for both projects were the active and adaptive optics systems. For GMT, the most important issue is the complexity of 7-segment adaptive secondary mirrors, since phasing and alignment to desired specifications across four modes is required.
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Both projects need significant additional new funding beyond the planned request from NSF. Both projects believe that the combination of the imprimatur of a top ranking in the decadal survey, followed by the full financial involvement of the U.S.
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ELT Program In this section, the panel considers the case for the proposal to Astro2020 by the U.S. ELTP for federal investment that would unite the GMT, TMT, and NOIRLab.
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ELT program is strong and compelling. The technical risks, while challenging, are manageable.
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The U.S. ELT program has also presented a baseline for when the funds from NSF would be needed.
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436 PATHWAYS TO DISCOVERY IN ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS FOR THE 2020s 700 600 NSF Guidance 500 $M per year 400 300 200 100 0 2023 2024 2025 2026 2027 2028 2029 2030 2031 2032 US ELTP MREFC FIGURE K.1 Comparison between the U.S. ELT request and the total notional NSF MREFC budget.
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community a full scientific partner in the U.S. ELT program and ensuring that the return on the federal investment to this community is maximized.
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GMT and TMT, in concert with NSF's NOIRLab, have therefore proposed to Astro2020 to create an integrated U.S. ELT Program that will provide access to both GMT and TMT in exchange for federal investment of $800 million in each of these two telescopes and also in the necessary NOIRLab infrastructure.
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From page 439... ...
AO development has led, notably, to the discovery of the supermassive black hole at the galactic center, the first images and spectra of exoplanets, and direct evidence for the existence of dark sub-halos as predicted by Cold Dark Matter models. AO is a key component for the success of DKIST.
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The panel received and reviewed RFI 2's for Gemini North Adaptive Optics (GNAO) (at GeminiNorth)
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The panel concurs with the recommendation from the Exoplanet Science Strategy10 -- namely that "NASA and NSF should establish a strategic initiative in extremely precise radial velocities (EPRV) to develop methods and facilities for measuring the masses of temperate terrestrial planets orbiting Sun-like stars." Following this recommendation, NASA and NSF jointly commissioned a community-based Extreme Precision Radial Velocity Working Group, which recently presented the blueprint for a strategic EPRV initiative.11 K.4.4 Massively Multiplexed OIR Spectrographs There is very strong support for massively multiplexed spectroscopy across many sectors of the science community.
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From page 442... ...
Massively multiplexed spectroscopy is required to fully realize the primary science goals of the Rubin Observatory, the Roman Space Telescope, Gaia, and other surveys. Happily, investment in existing 2–10 m capabilities would achieve a large fraction of the main science goals through the continuation of projects like SDSS V, DESI, U.S.
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From page 443... ...
The first science priority of the Panel on Stars, the Sun, and Stellar Populations is measuring fundamental stellar properties across the Hertzsprung–Russell (H-R) diagram, with an emphasis on precision stellar masses and radii.
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First light of the 4 m DKIST telescope in early 2020 promises significant progress in the coming decade for understanding detailed physical processes in the photosphere and the low corona related to the causes of flux emergence, the dynamo that drives stellar activity cycles, the mechanisms of coronal heating and solar wind acceleration, the fundamental process of magnetic reconnection, including the triggers for sudden release of stored magnetic energy in the star's atmosphere, and the effects of stellar activity on the habitability of exoplanets around stars more or less like the Sun. DKIST first-light instruments have breakthrough capabilities.
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Improving programmatic balance, including adequate/increased support for science analysis was a major theme of the 2013 Solar and Space Physics decadal survey. Coordination with in situ and remote-sensing spacebased instrumentation, including the Parker Solar Probe, Solar Orbiter, and Solar Dynamics Observatory, is essential to address survey goals.
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, and the important role that ground-based OIR telescopes played in identifying and characterizing the electromagnetic counterpart to gravitational waves from a binary neutron star merger. The healthy ecosystem of optical telescopes, including National Optical Astronomy Observatory (NOAO)
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ELT program that is fully competitive and leverages the existing bi-hemispheric investment in astronomical facilities, while at the same time providing the resources needed to exploit the powerful suite of existing facilities in the current decade and beyond. Meeting these challenges requires a sea-change in the way the U.S.
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