Scientific Plans for the Advanced Technology Solar Telescope
Stephen Keil, Thomas Rimmele, Jeremy Wagner and the ATST Team
The ATST is a 4-m aperture, off-axis solar telescope with integrated
adaptive optics, low-scattered light, infrared, coronagraphic, and
polarimetric capabilities. It will resolve the essential, fine-scale
magnetic features and their dynamics that dictate the varying release of
energy from the Sun's atmosphere. The ATST is being designed to optimize
throughput, scattered light, and instrumental polarization properties to
perform precision vector magnetic field measurements down to its diffraction
limit (0.03 arcsec at 500 nm) and throughout the solar atmosphere. Its
collecting area will provide the sensitivity to measure both weak fields and
rapidly evolving stronger fields. It will provide the sensitivity and
coronagraphic capability needed to measure the weak, fine-scale coronal
magnetic fields. With adaptive optics and a set of facility class
instrumentation the ATST will be the world's leading resource for studying
solar magnetism and will provide a complete view of the solar atmosphere
when used in conjunction with high-energy and other planned space missions.
We present a brief overview of the ATST program, how it fits into the
broader picture of solar facilities and capabilities, opportunities for
participation in the project, and plans for constructing and commissioning
the ATST.
Correspondence
Steve Keil, National Solar Observatory
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