Science with the VLT Interferometer

Science with the VLT Interferometer
Author: Francesco Paresce
Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media
Total Pages: 414
Release: 2013-06-29
Genre: Science
ISBN: 354069398X

It has always been ESO's aim to operate the VLT in an interferometric mode (VLTI) which allows the coherent combination of stellar light beams col lected by the four 8-m telescopes and by several smaller auxiliary telescopes. In December 1993, in response to financial difficulties, the ESO Council de cided to postpone implement at ion of the VLTI, Coude trains and associated adaptive optics for all the UTs but included provisions for continuing tech nological and development programmes devoted to the aim of reintroducing these capabilities at the earliest possible date. The desirability of carrying out the full VLTI programme as originally envisaged at the earliest possible moment has not, however, diminished, es pecially in view of VLTI's exceptional capabilities and resulting potential for new and exciting discoveries. In recent years, interferometric projects have begun to playa central role in ground-based high-resolution astronomy, and numerous instruments have been completed or are in the process of construc tion. Several large-aperture interferometers will probably co me on-line near the turn of the century. The impending presence of these new instruments represents an important incentive both for clarifying the scientific cases for various VLTI implementation plans and for ensuring VLTI's competitiveness in the international context over the next 1O~20 years.

Science with the VLT

Science with the VLT
Author: Jeremy Walsh
Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media
Total Pages: 483
Release: 2013-06-05
Genre: Science
ISBN: 3540492151

ESO's new and exciting telescope, the VLT in Chile, will certainly provide a host of new results in optical astronomy for the years to come. Here now is a survey of numerous possible observations together with the necessary instrumentation, thus affording an exciting overview of frontline research in astronomy rarely published before. The book runs the gamut of optical-IR astronomy from the solar system, the search for planets in nearby stars, the physics of galactic stars and clusters, AGN and quasars, right up to large structure and cosmology. Furthermore, it summarizes the two panel discussions held during the workshop.

Science with the VLT in the ELT Era

Science with the VLT in the ELT Era
Author: Alan F.M. Moorwood
Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media
Total Pages: 474
Release: 2008-11-21
Genre: Science
ISBN: 1402091907

The Workshop “Science with the VLT in the ELT Era” held in Garching from 8th to 12th October 2007 was organised by ESO, with support from its Scienti c and Technical Committee, to provide a forum for the astronomical community to debate the long term future of ESO’s Very Large Telescope (VLT) and its interferometric mode (VLTI). In particular it was considered useful for future planning to evaluate how its science use may evolve over the next decade due to competition and/or synergy with new facilities such as ALMA, JWST and, hopefully, at least one next generation 30–40 m extremely large telescope whose acronym appears in the title to symbolise this wider context. These discussions were also held in the fresh light of the Science Vision recently developed within ASTRONET as the rst step towards a 20 year plan for implementing astronomical facilities—the rst such attempt within Europe. Speci c ideas and proposals for new, second generation VLT/I instruments were also solicited following a tradition set by several earlier Workshops held since the start of the VLT development. The programme consisted of invited talks and reviews and contributed talks and posters. Almost all those given are included here although, unfortunately not the several lively but constructive discussion sessions.

Scientific Drivers for ESO Future VLT/VLTI Instrumentation

Scientific Drivers for ESO Future VLT/VLTI Instrumentation
Author: J. Bergeron
Publisher: Springer
Total Pages: 367
Release: 2013-12-21
Genre: Science
ISBN: 3662432153

This is the start of a long process to ultimately operate new advanced capabilities at Paranal that can keep up with the evergrowing need for larger and more complex astrophysical data sets. A modern instrument represents a very significant investment in cash, human resources and time. Such a meeting gives us a precious yardstick to evaluate the competitiveness of 1st-generation instruments and associated current and forthcoming proposals for 1st-generation upgrades. This is also crucial to orient the large research and development effort that will provide the very foundation on which 2nd-generation VLT instrumentation can be built. Finally, it represents a significant step towards defining the hopes and goals for the future Extremely Large Telescope to come. The first outcome of this meeting, already in progress, is outlined in the epilogue.

The Power of Optical/IR Interferometry: Recent Scientific Results and 2nd Generation Instrumentation

The Power of Optical/IR Interferometry: Recent Scientific Results and 2nd Generation Instrumentation
Author: Andrea Richichi
Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media
Total Pages: 583
Release: 2007-10-12
Genre: Science
ISBN: 3540742565

Celebrating the completion of the first phase of VLTI development, the ESO workshop The Power of Optical/IR Interferometry, held in 2005, gathered researchers together to review and discuss not just interferometers, but also how science uses interferometers and their impact on astronomy as a whole. This volume contains the proceedings of this workshop, serving as a reference for astronomers working with optical and infrared interferometry.

Astronomy, Cosmology and Fundamental Physics

Astronomy, Cosmology and Fundamental Physics
Author: Peter A. Shaver
Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media
Total Pages: 536
Release: 2003-07-11
Genre: Science
ISBN: 9783540401797

This book provides an overview of many of the dramatic recent developments in the fields of astronomy, cosmology and fundamental physics. Topics include observations of the structure in the cosmic background radiation, evidence for an accelerating Universe, the extraordinary concordance in the fundamental parameters of the Universe coming from these and other diverse observations, the search for dark matter candidates, evidence for neutrino oscillations, space experiments on fundamental physics, and discoveries of extrasolar planets. This book will be useful for researchers and graduate students who wish to have a broad overview of the current developments in these fields.

Jets from Young Stars II

Jets from Young Stars II
Author: Francesca Bacciotti
Publisher: Springer
Total Pages: 298
Release: 2007-10-31
Genre: Science
ISBN: 3540680322

This volume offers a background in modern high spatial resolution techniques, illustrating how such methods have impacted on our understanding of young stars. It provides hands-on insight into observing from space as well as the ground, the use of interferometers at millimeter and infrared wavelengths, image analysis and spectral diagnostic techniques, and High Angular Resolution studies of the inner regions of circumstellar disks that play a fundamental role in jet launching.

From Twilight to Highlight: The Physics of Supernovae

From Twilight to Highlight: The Physics of Supernovae
Author: W. Hillebrandt (Ed)
Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media
Total Pages: 446
Release: 2003-02-27
Genre: Science
ISBN: 9783540004837

Supernovae, their bearing on cosmology and their connection to gamma-ray bursts are now at the center of astrophysical research programs. This volume deals with astronomical observations of supernovae and their relation to nuclear and particle astrophysics. All known aspects of supernovae explosions are investigated in articles specifically written for researchers and advanced graduate students. It also includes recent numerical "experiments" related to the question of hydrodynamical instability in two and three dimensions and to problems concerning the complexity of radiation transport in the models. Other contributions discuss the possible energy sources needed to drive these powerful stellar explosions.

Dark Matter in Astro- and Particle Physics

Dark Matter in Astro- and Particle Physics
Author: Hans-Volker Klapdor-Kleingrothaus
Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media
Total Pages: 670
Release: 2012-12-06
Genre: Science
ISBN: 3642557392

The Fourth HEIDELBERG International Conference on Dark Matter in Astro and Particle Physics, DARK2002, was held in Cape Town, South Africa, in the period 4-9 February 2002. This majestic natural area was the site of the first conference of this series (hosted since 1996 in Heidelberg) to be held outside of Germany. Dark Matter has become one of the most exciting and central fields of as trophysics, particle physics and cosmology. The conference covered, as usual for this series, a large range of topics, theoretical and experimental. Topics included Astronomical Evidence for Dark Matter, the Cosmic Microwave Background, Supersymmetry, Inflation and Dark Energy, Structure Formation, Hot and Cold Dark Matter, and Ultrahigh Energy Cosmic Rays all of which were represented by experts in the field. It was very nice to see again many of our 'old' friends in Dark Matter here in South Africa. The organizers were very glad to see, in addition to world experts, the new generation here. Many young participants gave very nice professional talks during the conference. We are grateful to John Ellis for doing an incredible job preparing his excellent summary talk during the sessions. Some special interest and intensive discussions were naturally raised by the first announcement of terrestrial evidence for hot dark matter, obtained from neutrino less double beta decay. This now adds to the evidence for cold dark matter which we have from DAM A for several years already, and which remained unchallenged up to now by other experiments.