论文标题
南极洲圆顶A的天文观察的夜间测量
Night-time measurements of astronomical seeing at Dome A in Antarctica
论文作者
论文摘要
看到,大气湍流模糊的恒星图像的角度大小是用于评估天文位点质量的关键参数。最佳中纬度位点的中值值通常在0.6--0.8 \ arcsec范围内。南极高原上的地点的特征是在强大但薄的边界层上方的自由式湍流中相对较弱。据估计,在圆顶C上看到的中位数为0.23---0.36 ARCSEC,其典型高度为30 \ m。在圆顶A和F中,唯一的观看测量是在白天进行的。在这里,我们使用差分图像运动监视器报告了圆顶A夜间观察的第一个直接测量。它位于仅8 \,m的高度,其记录的视图低至0.13 \ arcsec,并提供了与圆顶C上20 \,m高度相当的统计数据。它表明边界层低于8 \,M 31 \%。在这种情况下,中位数为0.31 \ arcsec,与自由式观察一致。发现视力和边界层厚度与近表面温度梯度密切相关。相关性证实了从声音雷达发现的圆顶A边界层的中间厚度约为14 \,m,m。较薄的边界层使在其上方找到望远镜的挑战较小,从而使更多的自由气流访问更大。
Seeing, the angular size of stellar images blurred by atmospheric turbulence, is a critical parameter used to assess the quality of astronomical sites. Median values at the best mid-latitude sites are generally in the range of 0.6--0.8\,arcsec. Sites on the Antarctic plateau are characterized by comparatively-weak turbulence in the free-atmosphere above a strong but thin boundary layer. The median seeing at Dome C is estimated to be 0.23--0.36 arcsec above a boundary layer that has a typical height of 30\,m. At Dome A and F, the only previous seeing measurements were made during daytime. Here we report the first direct measurements of night-time seeing at Dome A, using a Differential Image Motion Monitor. Located at a height of just 8\,m, it recorded seeing as low as 0.13\,arcsec, and provided seeing statistics that are comparable to those for a 20\,m height at Dome C. It indicates that the boundary layer was below 8\,m 31\% of the time. At such times the median seeing was 0.31\,arcsec, consistent with free-atmosphere seeing. The seeing and boundary layer thickness are found to be strongly correlated with the near-surface temperature gradient. The correlation confirms a median thickness of approximately 14\,m for the boundary layer at Dome A, as found from a sonic radar. The thinner boundary layer makes it less challenging to locate a telescope above it, thereby giving greater access to the free-atmosphere.