ARENA Solar Astrophysics Working Group Reporting on Dome C Exceptional Potential for Solar Observations

¹ LATMOS/CNRS, Verrières le Buisson, France (Chairman)
² LESIA, Observatoire de Paris-Meudon, Meudon, France
³ INAF/Osservatorio Astronomico di Capodimonte, Naples, Italy (co-Chairman)

Corresponding author: luc.dame@aerov.jussieu.fr

Abstract

The ARENA Solar Astrophysics Working Group (WG6) is reviewing the exceptional site conditions prevailing at Dome C/Concordia making it a unique place on Earth for solar observations: excellent seeing, low sky brightness, low water vapour and high duty cycle. These qualities open science programmes which can combine very high resolution, coronagraphy, infrared access, and long time series (continuity). Major objectives accessible are the chromosphere-corona interface at very high resolution, direct magnetic field measurements in the chromosphere (prominences) and in the corona, 2D imaging spectroscopy and waves. A first mid-size facility is proposed and described, AFSIIC (Antarctica Facility for Solar Interferometric Imaging and Coronagraphy), using 3×Ø50 cm off-axis telescopes (1.4 m equivalent telescope) to access these objectives with the proper flux, angular resolution and coronagraphic potential. Support infrastructure and logistics have been studied and are discussed, noticeably a 30 m tower to place the observatory over the very thin surface turbulent layer of Dome C.