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Linz H, Beuther H, Gerin M, Goicoechea JR, Helmich F, Krause O, Liu Y, Molinari S, Ossenkopf-Okada V, Pineda J, Sauvage M, Schinnerer E, van der Tak F, Wiedner M, Amiaux J, Bhatia D, Buinhas L, Durand G, Förstner R, Graf U, Lezius M. Bringing high spatial resolution to the far-infrared: A giant leap for astrophysics. Exp Astron (Dordr) 2021; 51:661-697. [PMID: 34744305 PMCID: PMC8536553 DOI: 10.1007/s10686-021-09719-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2020] [Accepted: 03/02/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
The far-infrared (FIR) regime is one of the wavelength ranges where no astronomical data with sub-arcsecond spatial resolution exist. None of the medium-term satellite projects like SPICA, Millimetron, or the Origins Space Telescope will resolve this malady. For many research areas, however, information at high spatial and spectral resolution in the FIR, taken from atomic fine-structure lines, from highly excited carbon monoxide (CO), light hydrides, and especially from water lines would open the door for transformative science. A main theme will be to trace the role of water in proto-planetary discs, to observationally advance our understanding of the planet formation process and, intimately related to that, the pathways to habitable planets and the emergence of life. Furthermore, key observations will zoom into the physics and chemistry of the star-formation process in our own Galaxy, as well as in external galaxies. The FIR provides unique tools to investigate in particular the energetics of heating, cooling, and shocks. The velocity-resolved data in these tracers will reveal the detailed dynamics engrained in these processes in a spatially resolved fashion, and will deliver the perfect synergy with ground-based molecular line data for the colder dense gas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hendrik Linz
- Max-Planck-Institut für Astronomie, Heidelberg, Germany
| | | | - Maryvonne Gerin
- Sorbonne Université, Observatoire de Paris, Université PSL, CNRS, LERMA, Paris, France
| | | | - Frank Helmich
- SRON Netherlands Institute for Space Research, Groningen, Netherlands
| | - Oliver Krause
- Max-Planck-Institut für Astronomie, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Yao Liu
- Max-Planck-Institut für Extraterrestrische Physik, Garching, Germany
- Present Address: Purple Mountain Observatory, Key Laboratory for Radio Astronomy, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing, China
| | - Sergio Molinari
- Istituto di Astrofisica e Planetologia Spaziale, INAF, Rome, Italy
| | | | - Jorge Pineda
- Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, USA
| | - Marc Sauvage
- AIM, CEA, CNRS, Université Paris-Saclay, Université Paris Diderot, Sorbonne Paris Cité, Paris, France
| | | | - Floris van der Tak
- SRON, Kapteyn Astronomical Institute, University of Groningen, Groningen, Netherlands
| | - Martina Wiedner
- Observatoire de Paris, PSL university, Sorbonne Université, CNRS, LERMA, Paris, France
| | - Jerome Amiaux
- AIM, CEA, CNRS, Université Paris-Saclay, Université Paris Diderot, Sorbonne Paris Cité, Paris, France
| | - Divya Bhatia
- Institut für Flugführung, TU Braunschweig, Braunschweig, Germany
- Present Address: Independent Spacecraft AOCS/GNC Research Engineer, Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Luisa Buinhas
- Universität der Bundeswehr München, Neubiberg, Germany
- Present Address: Space Systems Engineer, Vyoma GmbH, Darmstadt, Germany
| | - Gilles Durand
- AIM, CEA, CNRS, Université Paris-Saclay, Université Paris Diderot, Sorbonne Paris Cité, Paris, France
| | | | - Urs Graf
- 1. Physikalisches Institut, Universität zu Köln, Cologne, Germany
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