The Atacama Large Millimetre/submillimetre Array (ALMA), a radio telescope nestled in the northern Chilean Atacama Desert, has recently surfaced in news for an impending overhaul involving hardware and software updates. Enhanced by these upgrades, ALMA is poised to gather more data and render crisper images.
Unveiling ALMA: A Cosmic Detective
The Atacama Large Millimetre/submillimetre Array, or ALMA, is a modern marvel in the realm of telescopic technology that scrutinizes cosmic objects at millimetre and submillimetre wavelengths. These penetrating waves permit astronomers to delve into dust clouds and explore dimly lit and distant galaxies and stars.
A global collaboration led to its creation, with key proponents being the European Southern Observatory (ESO), the National Science Foundation (NSF) of the U.S, Japan’s National Institutes of Natural Sciences (NINS), along with contributions from NRC (Canada), MOST and ASIAA (Taiwan), and KASI (Republic of Korea). The Republic of Chile is also a cooperative partner in this massive project.
Unique Features of ALMA
The defining characteristic of ALMA is its unmatched sensitivity to extremely faint radio signals. Each of its 66 antennas is furnished with a set of exclusive receivers, engineered to detect specific ranges of wavelengths on the electromagnetic spectrum.
To amalgamate the data collated by each antenna, ALMA employs a correlator— a potent supercomputer tasked with processing colossal volumes of data. It constructs intricate images of celestial bodies with stunning resolution. This unprecedented detail enables astronomers to investigate remote galaxies, stars, and other cosmic entities, unlocking a level of detail previously impossible.
ALMA’s Trail of Stellar Discoveries
In the short time since its inception, ALMA has been instrumental in revealing some of the universe’s well-kept secrets. Back in 2013, it exposed the existence of starburst galaxies from earlier in the Universe’s chronology than what was commonly believed.
In the following year, ALMA presented elaborate images of a protoplanetary disc encircling a young star named HL Tauri. This astounding discovery sparked debates, challenging prevalent theories on planetary evolution.
In 2015, ALMA facilitated observations of the Einstein ring phenomenon – a rare event where light from a distant galaxy or star bends around a massive object en route to Earth.
Why ALMA Calls the Atacama Desert Home
ALMA’s location in Chile’s Atacama Desert, perched 16,570 feet (5,050 metres) above sea level on the Chajnantor plateau, isn’t just for show. The millimetre and submillimetre waves it detects are exceptionally vulnerable to absorption by atmospheric water vapour on Earth.
Furthermore, the desert holds the title of the world’s driest place. It offers an abundance of nights that are cloudless and devoid of light-distorting moisture, making it an idyllic location for probing the universe.
