1. (Radio) Astronomy in Taiwan
Jeremy Lim
Institute of Astronomy & Astrophysics, Academia Sinica (ASIAA), Taiwan
Taiwan
(22.5 million)
Malaysia (23 million)

2. Why do Astronomy? Forefront Scientific Research
No secrets - Universe available to All
Friendly Community: Free (competitive) access to forefront Telescopes Collaborations to build up Research or Instruments/Telescopes
Funding Agencies – Academia Sinica, National Science Council, Ministry of Education
Improving Science and Technology
Graduate Education (Astrophysics, Mathematics, Engineering, Computers, …)
Technology transfer to Industry
Public Support
Strong Public interest, and stimulates Education

3. Growth of Astronomy in Taiwan
1980
1990
2000
ASIAA established (1993)
“Story of Astronomy in Taiwan (so far) is very much the story of ASIAA”

4. Main Astronomy/Astrophysics Institutes/Departments
Graduate Institute of Astronomy, National Central University (NCU), Chung-Li (9 faculty, ~20 Masters, ~5 PhD, ~2 postdocs)
Institute of Astronomy & Astrophysics, Academia Sinica, Taipei (NTU) (10 faculty, ~17 postdocs, ~20 technical, ~15 assistants, ~15 students)
Institute of Astrophysics, National Taiwan University (NTU), Taipei (3 faculty, a few students)
Institute of Astronomy, National Tsing-Hua University (NTHU), Tsing-Hua (2 faculty, a few students)
Theoretical Institute for Advanced Research in Astrophysics (TIARA), NTHU-AS initiative (temporarily at ASIAA)
Astronomers on faculty in other University departments

5. Main Telescope Research Projects
“Builder, not just user”
Radio Telescopes
Sub-Millimeter Array (SMA) on Mauna Kea, Hawaii (USA-Taiwan), commissioned
Array for Microwave Background Anisotropy (AMiBA) on Mauna Loa, Hawaii (Taiwan, Australia, USA, Canada), under construction
Atacama Large Millimeter Array (ALMA) on Atacama, Chile (USA, Europe, Japan), under negotiation with Japan
Optical Telescopes
Taiwan-American-Occultation Survey (TAOS) on Lulin mountain, Taiwan (Taiwan-USA, Korea), under construction
WIRCam for CFHT (3.6 m) on Mauna Kea, Hawaii (Canada, France, USA, Korea, Taiwan), under construction

6. The Sub-Millimeter Array (SMA) − Overview
Partnership between Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory (SAO) and ASIAA
Eight 6-meter antennas located at Mauna Kea, Hawaii (altitude 4080 m)
2 antennas constructed by ASIAA – increases number of baselines from 15 to 28!

7. The Sub-Millimeter Array (SMA) − Overview
Partnership between Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory (SAO) and ASIAA
Eight 6-meter antennas located at Mauna Kea, Hawaii (altitude 4080 m)
2 antennas constructed by ASIAA – increases number of baselines from 15 to 28!
Hangar for Assembly
Control Room

8. The Sub-Millimeter Array (SMA) − Operating Bands
Receivers at 1.3 mm (270 GHz), 0.8 mm (345 GHz), and 0.4 mm (690 GHz)

9. The Sub-Millimeter Array (SMA) − Mount & Reflector
Constructed and Assembled in Taiwan in partnership with Industry
Mount constructed by China Shipbuilding Company (CSBC) in Keelung

10. The Sub-Millimeter Array (SMA) − Mount & Reflector
Constructed and Assembled in Taiwan in partnership with Industry
Carbon-Fiber Reinforced Plastic Tubes for Reflector Backup Structure constructed by NITE in Taichung

11. The Sub-Millimeter Array (SMA) − Mount & Reflector
Constructed and Assembled in Taiwan in partnership with Industry
Antenna Mechanical/Electrical Assembly by Aeronautic Research Laboratory (ARL) in Taichung

12. The Sub-Millimeter Array (SMA) − Receiver Systems
Establishment of a Receiver Laboratory at ASIAA
All Receiver Systems assembled/tested by ASIAA Receiver Laboratory

13. The Sub-Millimeter Array (SMA) − Junctions
Developing expertise to make Low-Noise Junctions for Receivers
690 GHz SiS (Nb/SiO2) junction fabricated at ASIAA and National Tsing-Hua University (NTHU)

14. The Sub-Millimeter Array (SMA) − Science
Array commissioned in November 2003
Science Programs: Studies of Star Formation, Evolved Stars, External Galaxies, ...

15. The Sub-Millimeter Array (SMA) − Science
Array commissioned in November 2003
Science Program: Molecular Gas in Messier 51 (a nearby active galaxy)
SMA: 12CO (2-1)

16. The Sub-Millimeter Array (SMA) − Science
Array commissioned in November 2003
Science Program: Motion of Molecular Gas in M51
SMA: 12CO (2-1)

17. The Sub-Millimeter Array (SMA) − Science
Array commissioned in November 2003
Science Programs: Feeding the Central Supermassive Black Hole in M51
12CO (1-0)
Sakamoto et al. (1999)

18. The Sub-Millimeter Array (SMA) − Science
Array commissioned in November 2003
Science Programs: Feeding the Central Supermassive Black Hole in M51
SMA: 12CO (2-1)

19. The Sub-Millimeter Array (SMA) − Science
Array commissioned in November 2003
Science Programs: Feeding the Central Supermassive Black Hole in M51
SMA: 12CO (3-2)

20. Array for Microwave Background Anisotropy (AMiBA)
Measure polarization of Cosmic Microwave Background
Search for distant Galaxy Clusters from Sunyaev-Zeldovich effect, as tracer of Large-Scale Structure of the Universe

21. Array for Microwave Background Anisotropy (AMiBA)
Measurement of SZ-effect with Owens Valley Radio Observatory
X-ray Contours X-ray False-Color
X-ray Contours Radio False-Color
X-ray Contours Optical False-Color

22. Array for Microwave Background Anisotropy (AMiBA)
AMiBA Prototype on Mauna Loa, Hawaii (deployed 2002)
Hardware Testing and Trouble-Shooting, Astronomy Test Observations

23. Array for Microwave Background Anisotropy (AMiBA)
AMiBA to be deployed in 2004 (starting with 7 elements)

24. Taiwan-American-Occultation Survey (TAOS)
Determine size distribution of Kuiper Belt Objects (KBOs)
Discovery Images
The Solar System
Jewiit & Luu (1993)

25. Taiwan-American-Occultation Survey (TAOS)
Technique: Occultation of Background Stars by KBOs

26. Taiwan-American-Occultation Survey (TAOS)
Instrument: Four 20 inch (50 cm) telescopes on Lulin Mountain, Taiwan

27. Taiwan-American-Occultation Survey (TAOS)
Test observation: Occultation of Background Star by a known Asteroid
1 Frame (0.2 s)

28. ASIAA: A Growing Institute
Currently about 70 members
Active Recruitment of Astronomers and Engineers
Positions advertised in Physics Today and Job Register of American Astronomical Society
For more Information, please contact: Jeremy Lim (Chair, Postdoc Committee) Sun Kwok (Director, Executive Committee)