Project description DEENESFRITPL A design study for a new sub-millimeter astronomical observatory Our understanding of the formation, destruction, and evolution of objects in the Universe requires a comprehensive view of the sky at millimeter and sub-millimeter (sub-mm) wavelengths. From the discovery of dusty sub-mm galaxies to the ringed nature of protostellar disks, the current generation of sub-mm facilities has opened a new window for astronomical discoveries. The EU-funded AtLAST project will take a giant technological leap into a next-generation large aperture (50 meters in diameter) single-antenna telescope with a field-of-view of two degrees, an area equivalent to 16 full moons and about 500 times larger than any existing large single-dish sub-mm facilities have achieved. The project aims to obtain a feasibility study and telescope design that take into account the technical, operational and environmental challenges of such infrastructure and are able to achieve the transformational science goals. Show the project objective Hide the project objective Objective "Observations of the sky at sub-millimeter and millimeter ((sub)mm) wavelengths have yielded transformational results in the study of the origin of chemical complexity, the birth of stars and planetary systems, the evolution of galaxies across cosmic times and the large-scale architecture of the Universe. The current generation of 10-meter class single-dish (sub)mm telescopes has opened a new window for astronomical discoveries, by revealing physical processes and components that are invisible at shorter wavelengths. These facilities, with interferometers used for detailed follow-ups, have enabled astrophysicists to go far beyond the biased ""optical/infrared"" view of the Universe, often prompting major revisions of theoretical models. However, it is now clear that these previous facilities will not be able to meet the challenges of 21st century Astrophysics. Indeed, the astronomical community worldwide has agreed that a transformational leap in discovery potential can only be enabled by a next generation, large aperture (50-meter diameter), single dish telescope operating at (sub)mm wavelengths. We hereby propose a design study for the Atacama Large Aperture Submillimeter Telescope (AtLAST). Our vision of AtLAST includes: a 50-m class dish, with high throughput and a field of view of two degrees, located at a high, dry site in the Atacama desert where the transparent atmosphere enables observations at frequencies up to the terahertz regime. We envision AtLAST as an international partnership operating a facility telescope, and we will explore ways to make the observatory fully powered by renewable energy. Such infrastructure will be unique in the landscape of current research facilities. Our project aims to obtain a comprehensive feasibility study and telescope design that take into account the technical, operational, and environmental challenges of such infrastructure, and that can achieve the transformational science goals defined by the community." Fields of science engineering and technologyenvironmental engineeringenergy and fuelsrenewable energynatural sciencesphysical sciencesastronomyastrophysicsnatural sciencesphysical sciencesastronomyplanetary sciences Programme(s) H2020-EU.1.4. - EXCELLENT SCIENCE - Research Infrastructures Main Programme H2020-EU.1.4.1.1. - Developing new world-class research infrastructures Topic(s) INFRADEV-01-2019-2020 - Design Studies Call for proposal H2020-INFRADEV-2018-2020 See other projects for this call Sub call H2020-INFRADEV-2019-3 Funding Scheme RIA - Research and Innovation action Coordinator UNIVERSITETET I OSLO Net EU contribution € 1 174 582,50 Address Problemveien 5-7 0313 Oslo Norway See on map Region Norge Oslo og Viken Oslo Activity type Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Participation in EU R&I programmes Opens in new window HORIZON collaboration network Opens in new window Other funding € 0,00 Participants (4) Sort alphabetically Sort by Net EU contribution Expand all Collapse all EUROPEAN SOUTHERN OBSERVATORY - ESO EUROPEAN ORGANISATION FOR ASTRONOMICAL RESEARCH IN THE SOUTHERN HEMISPHERE Germany Net EU contribution € 105 000,00 Address Karl-schwarzschild-strasse 2 85748 Garching See on map Region Bayern Oberbayern München, Landkreis Activity type Research Organisations Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Participation in EU R&I programmes Opens in new window HORIZON collaboration network Opens in new window Other funding € 0,00 UNITED KINGDOM RESEARCH AND INNOVATION United Kingdom Net EU contribution € 444 878,75 Address Polaris house north star avenue SN2 1FL Swindon See on map Region South West (England) Gloucestershire, Wiltshire and Bristol/Bath area Swindon Activity type Research Organisations Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Participation in EU R&I programmes Opens in new window HORIZON collaboration network Opens in new window Other funding € 0,00 OHB DIGITAL CONNECT GMBH Germany Net EU contribution € 1 795 000,00 Address Manfred-fuchs-platz 2-4 28359 Bremen See on map Region Bremen Bremen Bremen, Kreisfreie Stadt Activity type Private for-profit entities (excluding Higher or Secondary Education Establishments) Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Participation in EU R&I programmes Opens in new window HORIZON collaboration network Opens in new window Other funding € 0,00 THE UNIVERSITY OF HERTFORDSHIRE HIGHER EDUCATION CORPORATION United Kingdom Net EU contribution € 0,00 Address College lane AL10 9AB Hatfield See on map Region East of England Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire Hertfordshire Activity type Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Participation in EU R&I programmes Opens in new window HORIZON collaboration network Opens in new window Other funding € 0,00