Paper:	Emission Processes in the Interstellar Medium
Volume:	344, The Cool Universe: Observing Cosmic Dawn
Page:	126
Authors:	Ho, P.T.P
Abstract:	The bulk of the universe is in fact quite cool. The typical temperature which characterizes most of the interstellar medium is about 10 K. The peak of its spectral energy distribution lies at far-infrared and sub-millimeter wavelengths. The construction of ALMA in the Atacama desert will bring on line a very powerful instrument for studying the dust continuum emission as well as the many molecular lines which become detectable at millimeter and sub-millimeter wavelengths. Moreover, ALMA will provide sub-arcsecond angular resolution which will resolve a wide range of astrophysical phenomena, from solar system bodies to the most distant high redshift systems. Sub-millimeter interferometry is already underway with the completion of the Sub-millimeter Array (SMA) on Mauna Kea. The initial science results offer some hints of what might be achievable in the next decade.

Astronomical Society of the Pacific
Conference Series

© Copyright 1988 - 2024 - Astronomical Society of the Pacific
No part of the material protected by this copyright may be reproduced or used in any form other than for personal use without written permission from the ASP.

Page generated in 0.072 seconds