17 March 2005

Speaker: Paul Ho (Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics)

Title: Science with the Submillimeter Array

Abstract: The Submillimeter Array is an 8-element interferometer constructed jointly by the SAO and the ASIAA. The SMA has been in regular operation on top of Mauna Kea in Hawaii since the end of 2003. The SMA brings to submillimeter wavelength astronomy, the largest collecting area with the highest angular resolution. With a maximum baseline of 500m, a potential increase in resolution by a factor of 1000 in beam area can be achieved over existing measurements. The SMA aims specifically at dust emission whose intensity peaks in the submillimeter and far-infrared, and a forest of spectral lines which become detectable in the submillimeter. We report in this talk some of early science which have been produced by the SMA, covering a range of topics including solar system objects, low mass stars, circumstellar jets, galaxies, and high redshift objects. The combination of sub-arcsecond resolution and the submillimeter wavelengths have made significant impact in a number of areas. In the next five years, the SMA will focus more and more on Legacy Science topics, which we will also discuss.

Video of the Presentation (Talks can be viewed with RealPlayer. Free download is available from www.real.com )

References for students: