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A mitad de camino: 33 antenas de ALMA en Chajnantor
15 de Mayo de 2012
La construcción de ALMA (Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array), el observatorio astronómico basado en tierra más complejo del mundo, sigue su curso en el llano de Chajnantor, en el norte de Chile. El 12 de mayo de 2012 se trasladó otra antena de ALMA a Chajnantor, alcanzando un total de 33 antenas en el llano. Esto marca la mitad del camino para la construcción de ALMA, ya que, cuando se complete en 2013, el telescopio tendrá un total de 66 antenas. Se trata de antenas gigantes: 54 tienen una superficie de 12 metros de diámetro, y doce tienen 7 metros de diámetro. Utilizan receptores sensibles a las longitudes de onda milimétrica y submilimétrica que nos llegan del cosmos.
La primera de estas antenas hizo su viaje hacia el lugar de operaciones (Array Operations Site), situado a 5.000 metros de altura, en septiembre de 2009 (ver eso0935). Ahora, a medida que ALMA se acerca a su compleción, aumenta el ritmo de llegada de las antenas.
Las antenas de última tecnología de ALMA pesan unas 100 toneladas cada una, por lo que necesitan un vehículo especialmente preparado para su transporte con el fin de llevarlas, desde las instalaciones de apoyo a las operaciones (Operations Support Facility), hasta el elevado lugar en el que son finalmente instaladas. Estos vehículos gemelos (denominados “transporters”), al igual que 25 de las 66 antenas, están entre las múltiples contribuciones que ESO ha hecho al proyecto [1]. Los “transporters” — enormes máquinas bautizadas con los nombres de Otto y Lore — tienen 20 metros de largo, 10 de ancho y 6 metros de altura, y cada una tiene 28 neumáticos. También se usan para trasladar las antenas de sitio en el mismo llano. La distancia mínima entre antenas es de 15 metros y todas pueden posicionarse dentro de un radio de 150 metros, o situarse a una distancia entre ellas de 16 kilómetros, lo cual proporciona a ALMA un poderoso “zoom”.
Aunque no todas las antenas hayan llegado a Chajnantor, ALMA ya está operando y llevando a cabo observaciones tempranas (denominadas Early Science) con parte de su conjunto de antenas (ver eso1137). ALMA es el telescopio más potente para la observación del universo frío — gas molecular y polvo, así como los restos de radiación del Big Bang. Con ALMA, los astrónomos están estudiando los componentes básicos de las estrellas, los sistemas planetarios, las galaxias, y la propia vida.
El Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA), una instalación astronómica internacional, es una colaboración entre Europa, América del Norte y Asia Oriental en cooperación con la República de Chile. La construcción y operaciones de ALMA en Europa están lideradas por ESO; en América del Norte por el National Radio Astronomy Observatory (NRAO); y en Asia Oriental por el Observatorio Astronómico Nacional de Japón (NAOJ). El Joint ALMA Observatory (JAO) proporciona al proyecto la unificación tanto del liderazgo como de la gestión de la construcción, puesta a punto y operación de ALMA.
Notas
[1] ESO proporciona las 25 antenas europeas de ALMA a través de un contrato con el consorcio europeo AEM. ALMA también contará con 25 antenas proporcionadas por América del Norte y 16 aportadas por Asia Oriental.
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