KOSMA 3-m submillimeter-wave telescope on Gornergrat: interstellar spectroscopy and astrophysics

Cuno G. Degiacomi; Rudolf T. Schieder; Juergen Stutzki; Gisbert F. Winnewisser

doi:10.1117/12.205672

1 September 1995 KOSMA 3-m submillimeter-wave telescope on Gornergrat: interstellar spectroscopy and astrophysics

Cuno G. Degiacomi, Rudolf T. Schieder, Juergen Stutzki, Gisbert F. Winnewisser

Author Affiliations +

Optical Engineering, Vol. 34, Issue 9, (September 1995). https://doi.org/10.1117/12.205672

Abstract

The 3-m KOSMA telescope at Gornergrat (Switzerland) is dedicated to millimeter- and submillimeter-wave astrophysics with observations mainly of interstellar atomic and molecular lines. This includes measurement of the large-scale structure and dynamics of molecular clouds in our galaxy for a better understanding of the processes connected with star formation. The present research activity of the observatory is described with a special scope on the description of the techniques and instrumentation used. The site at Gornergrat has superb atmospheric transparency, thus allowing operation up into the highest-frequency atmospheric window at around 850 GHz. We discuss the rapid development of sensitive superconductor-insulator-superconductor mixer elements, now covering frequencies well up into the submillimterwave range with close to quantum-limit detection. As frequency-analyzing devices we exclusively use acousto-optical spectrometers at KOSMA. Progress into the submillimeter spectral range is complemented by the now mature technique of building radiotelescopes with sufficient surface accuracy to guarantee operation into the terahertz region (λ = 200 μm). A new 3-m reflector for the KOSMA telescope with an expected surface accuracy of 10 μm is under construction.

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Cuno G. Degiacomi, Rudolf T. Schieder, Juergen Stutzki, and Gisbert F. Winnewisser "KOSMA 3-m submillimeter-wave telescope on Gornergrat: interstellar spectroscopy and astrophysics," Optical Engineering 34(9), (1 September 1995). https://doi.org/10.1117/12.205672

Published: 1 September 1995

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