Exceptional terahertz transparency and stability above dome A, Antarctica

H. Yang; C. A. Kulesa; C. K. Walker; N. F.H. Tothill; J. Yang; M. C.B. Ashley; X. Cui; L. Feng; J. S. Lawrence; D. M. Luong-Van; M. J. Mccaughrean; J. W.V. Storey; L. Wang; X. Zhou; Z. Zhu

doi:10.1086/652276

Exceptional terahertz transparency and stability above dome A, Antarctica

H. Yang, C. A. Kulesa, C. K. Walker, N. F.H. Tothill, J. Yang, M. C.B. Ashley, X. Cui, L. Feng, J. S. Lawrence, D. M. Luong-Van, M. J. Mccaughrean, J. W.V. Storey, L. Wang, X. Zhou, Z. Zhu

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Abstract

We present the first direct measurements of the terahertz atmospheric transmission above Dome A, the highest point on the Antarctic plateau at an elevation of 4.1 km. The best-quartile atmospheric transmission during the Austral winter is 80% at a frequency of 661 GHz (453 μm), corresponding to a precipitable water vapor column of 0.1 mm. Daily averages as low as 0.025 mm were observed. The Antarctic atmosphere is very stable, and excellent observing conditions generally persist for many days at a time. The exceptional conditions over the high Antarctic plateau open new far-infrared spectral windows to ground-based observation. These windows contain important spectral-line diagnostics of star formation and the interstellar medium which would otherwise only be accessible to airborne or space telescopes.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	490-494
Number of pages	5
Journal	Publications of the Astronomical Society of the Pacific
Volume	122
Issue number	890
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1086/652276
State	Published - Apr 2010

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Astronomy and Astrophysics
Space and Planetary Science

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Yang, H., Kulesa, C. A., Walker, C. K., Tothill, N. F. H., Yang, J., Ashley, M. C. B., Cui, X., Feng, L., Lawrence, J. S., Luong-Van, D. M., Mccaughrean, M. J., Storey, J. W. V., Wang, L., Zhou, X., & Zhu, Z. (2010). Exceptional terahertz transparency and stability above dome A, Antarctica. Publications of the Astronomical Society of the Pacific, 122(890), 490-494. https://doi.org/10.1086/652276

Yang, H, Kulesa, CA , Walker, CK, Tothill, NFH, Yang, J, Ashley, MCB, Cui, X, Feng, L, Lawrence, JS, Luong-Van, DM, Mccaughrean, MJ, Storey, JWV, Wang, L, Zhou, X & Zhu, Z 2010, 'Exceptional terahertz transparency and stability above dome A, Antarctica', Publications of the Astronomical Society of the Pacific, vol. 122, no. 890, pp. 490-494. https://doi.org/10.1086/652276

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title = "Exceptional terahertz transparency and stability above dome A, Antarctica",

abstract = "We present the first direct measurements of the terahertz atmospheric transmission above Dome A, the highest point on the Antarctic plateau at an elevation of 4.1 km. The best-quartile atmospheric transmission during the Austral winter is 80% at a frequency of 661 GHz (453 μm), corresponding to a precipitable water vapor column of 0.1 mm. Daily averages as low as 0.025 mm were observed. The Antarctic atmosphere is very stable, and excellent observing conditions generally persist for many days at a time. The exceptional conditions over the high Antarctic plateau open new far-infrared spectral windows to ground-based observation. These windows contain important spectral-line diagnostics of star formation and the interstellar medium which would otherwise only be accessible to airborne or space telescopes.",

author = "H. Yang and Kulesa, {C. A.} and Walker, {C. K.} and Tothill, {N. F.H.} and J. Yang and Ashley, {M. C.B.} and X. Cui and L. Feng and Lawrence, {J. S.} and Luong-Van, {D. M.} and Mccaughrean, {M. J.} and Storey, {J. W.V.} and L. Wang and X. Zhou and Z. Zhu",

year = "2010",

month = apr,

doi = "10.1086/652276",

language = "English (US)",

volume = "122",

pages = "490--494",

journal = "Publications of the Astronomical Society of the Pacific",

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AU - Yang, H.

AU - Kulesa, C. A.

AU - Walker, C. K.

AU - Tothill, N. F.H.

AU - Yang, J.

AU - Ashley, M. C.B.

AU - Cui, X.

AU - Feng, L.

AU - Lawrence, J. S.

AU - Luong-Van, D. M.

AU - Mccaughrean, M. J.

AU - Storey, J. W.V.

AU - Wang, L.

AU - Zhou, X.

AU - Zhu, Z.

PY - 2010/4

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AB - We present the first direct measurements of the terahertz atmospheric transmission above Dome A, the highest point on the Antarctic plateau at an elevation of 4.1 km. The best-quartile atmospheric transmission during the Austral winter is 80% at a frequency of 661 GHz (453 μm), corresponding to a precipitable water vapor column of 0.1 mm. Daily averages as low as 0.025 mm were observed. The Antarctic atmosphere is very stable, and excellent observing conditions generally persist for many days at a time. The exceptional conditions over the high Antarctic plateau open new far-infrared spectral windows to ground-based observation. These windows contain important spectral-line diagnostics of star formation and the interstellar medium which would otherwise only be accessible to airborne or space telescopes.

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Exceptional terahertz transparency and stability above dome A, Antarctica

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