11 research outputs found
Future mmVLBI Research with ALMA: A European vision
Very long baseline interferometry at millimetre/submillimetre wavelengths
(mmVLBI) offers the highest achievable spatial resolution at any wavelength in
astronomy. The anticipated inclusion of ALMA as a phased array into a global
VLBI network will bring unprecedented sensitivity and a transformational leap
in capabilities for mmVLBI. Building on years of pioneering efforts in the US
and Europe the ongoing ALMA Phasing Project (APP), a US-led international
collaboration with MPIfR-led European contributions, is expected to deliver a
beamformer and VLBI capability to ALMA by the end of 2014 (APP: Fish et al.
2013, arXiv:1309.3519).
This report focuses on the future use of mmVLBI by the international users
community from a European viewpoint. Firstly, it highlights the intense science
interest in Europe in future mmVLBI observations as compiled from the responses
to a general call to the European community for future research projects. A
wide range of research is presented that includes, amongst others:
- Imaging the event horizon of the black hole at the centre of the Galaxy
- Testing the theory of General Relativity an/or searching for alternative
theories
- Studying the origin of AGN jets and jet formation
- Cosmological evolution of galaxies and BHs, AGN feedback
- Masers in the Milky Way (in stars and star-forming regions)
- Extragalactic emission lines and astro-chemistry
- Redshifted absorption lines in distant galaxies and study of the ISM and
circumnuclear gas
- Pulsars, neutron stars, X-ray binaries
- Testing cosmology
- Testing fundamental physical constantsComment: Replaced figures 2 and 3: corrected position SRT. Corrected minor
typo in 5.