THz Astrophysics from Dome A

¹ School of Physics, University of Exeter, Stocker Road, Exeter, EX4 4QL, UK
² Steward Observatory, 933 N. Cherry Ave., Tucson, AZ 85721, USA
³ Purple Mountain Observatory, Nanjing 210008, China
⁴ School of Physics, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia
⁵ Department of Physics and Engineering, Macquarie University, NSW 1209, Australia
⁶ Polar Research Institute of China, Shanghai 200136, China
⁷ National Astronomical Observatories, Beijing 100012, China
⁸ Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, USA
⁹ Nanjing Institute of Astronomical Optics and Technology, Nanjing 210042, China
¹⁰ I. Physikalisches Institut, Universität zu Köln, Zülpicher Strasse 77, 50937 Köln, Germany
¹¹ Department of Physics and Astronomy, Oberlin College, Oberlin, OH 44074, USA
¹² Tianjin Normal University, Tianjin 300074, China
¹³ University of Newcastle, Singapore 169567
¹⁴ Department of Physics, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA

Corresponding author: nfht@astro.ex.ac.uk

Abstract

The THz spectral region includes a number of important transitions which allow us to trace the evolution of the interstellar medium. Because of the opacity of the atmosphere in this spectral range, the best sites for ground-based THz observations are on the Antarctic Plateau; of these sites, Dome A is expected to be the best. THz survey science can be carried out with small telescopes, easing logistical constraints. By deploying a submillimetre-wave tipper/ telescope to Dome A, we have trialled several technologies for such an instrument, and we are able to test whether the site quality is sufficient for THz surveys.