Scientific Plans for the Advanced Technology Solar Telescope

Stephen Keil, Thomas Rimmele, Jeremy Wagner and the ATST Team

The ATST is a 4-m aperture, off-axis solar telescope with integrated adaptive optics, low-scattered light, infrared, coronagraphic, and polarimetric capabilities. It will resolve the essential, fine-scale magnetic features and their dynamics that dictate the varying release of energy from the Sun's atmosphere. The ATST is being designed to optimize throughput, scattered light, and instrumental polarization properties to perform precision vector magnetic field measurements down to its diffraction limit (0.03 arcsec at 500 nm) and throughout the solar atmosphere. Its collecting area will provide the sensitivity to measure both weak fields and rapidly evolving stronger fields. It will provide the sensitivity and coronagraphic capability needed to measure the weak, fine-scale coronal magnetic fields. With adaptive optics and a set of facility class instrumentation the ATST will be the world's leading resource for studying solar magnetism and will provide a complete view of the solar atmosphere when used in conjunction with high-energy and other planned space missions. We present a brief overview of the ATST program, how it fits into the broader picture of solar facilities and capabilities, opportunities for participation in the project, and plans for constructing and commissioning the ATST.

Correspondence

Steve Keil, National Solar Observatory

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