The Atacama Large Millimetre/submillimetre Array (ALMA) is a ground-breaking telescope that has revolutionized our understanding of the universe. This radio telescope is situated in the Atacama Desert in northern Chile, and it consists of 66 high-precision antennas. The ALMA is capable of observing dim and distant galaxies and stars using millimetre and submillimetre wavelengths that can penetrate through dust clouds.
Understanding the ALMA
The ALMA was built by an international collaboration of countries including Europe, North America, and East Asia. The telescope was built to study the universe in a way that is not possible with optical telescopes. The ALMA is designed to capture high-resolution images of the universe using radio waves. These radio waves are emitted by objects in the universe that are too cold to emit visible light. The ALMA is capable of detecting signals from sources that are billions of light-years away.
Advancements of the ALMA
The ALMA is set to receive a hardware and software upgrade that will enhance its capabilities to collect more data and produce sharper images. The upgrades will be made over five years and will cost an estimated 37 million USD. The upgrades will include new receivers and correlators that will enhance the telescope’s sensitivity, speed, and accuracy. The correlator is the component that combines the signals received by the 66 antennas to produce an image. The new correlator will have a processing speed of 16 terabits per second, which is more than 100 times faster than the current correlator.
The new receivers will be sensitive to a wider range of frequencies, allowing astronomers to observe new objects and phenomena. This will enable researchers to study a wider range of objects, including distant galaxies, star-forming regions, and black holes.
Impact of the ALMA
Since its inauguration in 2013, the ALMA has made several significant discoveries. The telescope has helped astronomers to understand the formation and evolution of galaxies, the processes that occur in star-forming regions, and the properties of black holes. The ALMA has also helped researchers to study the properties of molecules in the universe and has provided insights into the formation of complex organic molecules, which are essential building blocks of life.
The ALMA has played a critical role in the field of astronomy, and the new hardware and software upgrades will undoubtedly enhance its capabilities even further. The upgraded ALMA will help researchers to explore new areas of the universe and to study objects and phenomena that were previously beyond their reach.
