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Overview The Combined Array for Research in Millimeter-wave
Astronomy (CARMA) is the merger of two university-based millimeter arrays --
the Owens Valley Radio Observatory
(OVRO) millimeter array and the Berkeley-Illinois-Maryland
Association (BIMA) millmeter array -- to form a powerful
astronomical tool for the new millennium. At a new high-altitude site in
eastern California, CARMA will provide unparalleled sensitivity, broad
frequency coverage, sub-arcsecond resolution and wide-field
heterogeneous imaging capabilities, along with
innovative technologies and educational opportunities. OVRO and BIMA
pioneered millimeter-wavelength interferometry over the last two
decades, and CARMA will carry on that legacy by opening new windows
through which to see the universe and by training the next generation of
radio astronomers.
Water vapor in the lower parts of the Earth's atmosphere
absorbs and distorts astronomical signals at millimeter wavelengths. By
locating the new array at 7200 feet above sea level, these
signals are greatly reduced, equivalent to increasing the collecting
area of the array by 50-100% without building any new antennas. Once
all the antennas from BIMA and OVRO are moved to this high site, CARMA
will observe radio emission from molecules and dust throughout our
universe. Some of the objects CARMA will observe include nearby
starburst galaxies, blue dwarf galaxies, nearby molecular clouds
forming clusters of stars, newly-born stars emerging from their present
clouds, comets, and the cosmic radiation left-over from the Big Bang.
During these observations, CARMA will be operated from a small control
building adjacent to the antennas, typically by professional
astronomers, university faculty, or students. Minor support and
maintenance will be performed at the CARMA high site, while most CARMA
operations will be based at OVRO. Further engineering and development
will occur at OVRO and the university laboratories. Funding for the construction and operation of CARMA comes from the National Science Foundation and the consortium universities. Timeline
CARMA
100 Leighton
Lane (P.O. Box 968)
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