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Millimetron Project - Introduction
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The goal of the project is to construct space observatory operating in millimeter, sub-millimeter and infrared wavelength ranges using 12-m cryogenic telescope in a single-dish mode and as an interferometer with the space-ground and space-space baselines (the later after the launch of the second identical space telescope). The observatory will provide possibility to conduct astronomical observations with super high sensitivity (down to nanoJansky level) in a single dish mode, and observations with super high angular resolution in an interferometric mode.
It is well known that the spectrum of the sky in the wavelength range of 0.4-20 mm is dominated by the cosmic microwave background radiation (CMB), which follows Planck law with the temperature of 2.73 K. This is an absolute minimum of the brightness temperature over the whole spectrum of the background radiation.
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Fig.1. The spectrum of a electromagnetic cosmic background for high galactic latitudes (R.C. Henry, Ap.J., 516, L49-L52, 1999).
At the wavelength of 250 – 500mm there is a deep minimum both for spectral intensity In and total intensity I~n In of the background radiation(emission) at the frequency n. This minimum separates the region with the CMB domination from the region where the emission of interstellar and interplanetary dust dominates. If one adopts that the flux sensitivity of the telescope is restricted only by background radiation, the estimates show that the sensitivity of the 12 meter space telescope at the wavelength 300m is equal to the sensitivity of 1 kilometer ground radio telescope at the wavelength 2 cm. Two or more such telescopes operating as interferometer with space baselines (SBLI), will provide angular resolution by thousands times better than ground VLBI network.
The millimeter and submillimeter wavelength ranges are now under intensive development. Utilization of these wavelength ranges has already brought very important information for cosmology and extragalactic astronomy as well as for the investigations of our Galaxy and the objects in the Solar system. Ultra high angular resolution and high sensitivity possible in these wavelength ranges will enable to investigate many stars with planetary systems. Negligible effects of scattering waves on clouds of the interstellar plasma in these wavelength ranges will facilitate imaging of super compact objects and will enable high accuracy measurements of coordinates and motions of such objects. Both continuum and spectral line (atoms and molecules) investigation will be possible, as well as polarimetric observations and observations of variable sources.
Millimetron Project is included into the Space Research Program of Russian Federation for the term till the 2015 year. The launch date for the first spacecraft is planned for 2016 year.
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