The remarkable environment of Antarctica offers many advantages for astronomical observations. Over the past two decades this field of scientific endeavour has developed dramatically and Antarctic-based observatories now regularly contribute to front line astrophysical research. This volume presents the Proceedings from the first ever International Astronomical Union Symposium to be held on the subject. After describing our knowledge of the special environment for Antarctic astronomy, it covers the following principal science areas: measuring the cosmic microwave background radiation; neutrino detection; cosmogenic signatures from the ice and atmosphere; submillimetre and terahertz astronomy; and optical and infrared astronomy. Each topic begins with reviews covering the field and the science being undertaken in it, followed by descriptions of the experiments, the telescopes and the results obtained. Another special feature surveys Antarctic stations and the astronomical facilities they contain. The volume concludes by considering the future for astronomical research in Antarctica.
• A complete overview of the state of astronomy in Antarctica, covering many different strands of scientific research • Features multidisciplinary reviews from leading international experts, giving a broad overview for non-experts • Contains several unique images from the high Antarctic plateau, a sight seen by only a very few scientists
Contents
Editorial; 1. Review of Antarctic astronomy; 2. Astrophysics from Antarctica; 3. Understanding the Antarctic environment; 4. Cosmic microwave background radiation; 5. Neutrinos; 6. Cosmogenic signatures from ice and atmosphere; 7. Sub-millimetre and terahertz astronomy; 8. Optical and infrared astronomy; 9. Antarctic stations and their observatories; 10. The Arctic analogue; 11. Facilities for the future; Summary; Index.
Printer friendly version