1. ATACAMA CCAT : The Cornell-Caltech Atacama Telescope
A joint project of Cornell University,
the California Institute of Technology
and the Jet Propulsion Laboratory
Riccardo Giovanelli
Midterm Review
Ithaca, 13Jul05

2. Scientific Excellence Internal Synergy Special Niche/High Visibility
Guiding Principles
Scientific Excellence
Internal Synergy
Special Niche/High Visibility
Ride the technology wave of large
format Bolometer Arrays
Synergy with (and enabler to) ALMA*
*ALMA: an international telescope project, currently funded by the US (through
the NSF and the National Radio Astronomy Observatory) and Europe
(trough the European Southern Observatory). It will consist of an array
of ~64 antennas which will operate in Atacama at mm wavelengths.
Cost: $750M Completion date: ~ year 2012

3. A unique project geared towards the investigation
of cosmic origins, from planets to galaxies, in the
FIR/submm niche;
with a focus that emphasizes our institutions’
instrument building talents & development of
forefront technologies;
that can sensibly achieve first light by 2012;
that will maintains us in the forefront of research
in one of the most rapidly developing observational/
technological fields;
that will provide us with strong leverage for
ALMA access/joint project development;
at cost affordable by a small consortium of academic
institutions;
through a development strategy that will place us
to advantage on a pathway to a “high altitude
observatory”.

4. Spring 2003 : Partnership initiated
October 2003: Workshop in Pasadena
Feb 2004: MOU signed by
Caltech, JPL and Cornell
Late 2004: Project Office established,
PM, DPM hired,
Study Phase pace accelerates
July 2005: Study Phase Midterm Review
Early 2006: Preliminary CDR
Engineering Design Phase,
finalize Site Selection
Construction and First Light

5.  Study Report and Concept Review in early 2006
Study Phase Goals:
Specification of scientific priorities,
telescope design parameters and technologies,
instrumentation priorities,
operational modes,
site selection criteria and pathline,
technology risk assessment,
engineering, construction and operation cost estimates
partnersip development and
funding strategy
 Study Report and Concept Review in early 2006

6. The CCAT: A 25m class FIR/submm telescope that will
operate with high aperture efficiency down
to l = 200 m, an atmospheric limit
With large format bolometer array cameras
(large Field of View > 15’) and high spectral
resolution heterodyne receivers
At a very high (elevation > 5000m), very dry
(Precipitable Water Vapor column PWV<1 mm)
site with wide sky coverage
NOT confusion-limited in exposures of
24 hrs or less

7. CCAT will be the most sensitive FIR/submm telescope in the world
SIRTF
Herschel
APEX
JCMT
ALMA
CCAT
LMT
(Herter)

8. High degree of synergy with ALMA:
CCAT: high sensitivity and large field of view
ALMA: high angular resolution over small FOV
CCAT: nimbly adaptable to rapidly developing
detector technology,
 ideal for large survey & LSB studies
ALMA: follow-up, detailed structural studies
Design of combined ALMA-CCAT large scale
projects desirable

9. Science Areas:
Early Universe Cosmology
Galaxy Formation & Evolution
Disks, Star & Planet Forming Regions
Cosmic Microwave Background, SZE and
Solar System Astrophysics

10. Why FIR/submm?
Photospheric light
Reprocessed by dust
That’s the energy regime
at which most of the
Universe’s early light
produced
after the
recombination
era reaches us.
And at which
radiation
produced
in star &
planet
forming
regions
emerges
from the
dust cocoons.
Microwave Background
Photospheric light
from stars

11. How did we get from this:
… and this?
…to this:
… and this

12. In the highest, driest tropical region
on Earth …

13. At an elevation of ~17,000 ft a.m.s.l., in the Atacama region of
Northern Chile, it will be the highest observatory on Earth.
Sairecabur
Toco
ACT
JNAO
Chajantor
MPI
Chico
Chascon
ALMA
CBI
Negro
National Science Preserve
(managed by CONICYT)
Honar

14. View from the Summit of Cerro Negro, to the North