ARENA

Antarctic Research, a European Network for Astrophysics

A project of the Research Infrastructures of the European Commission FP6

(RICA-026150)

ARENA is a European networking activity aimed at fostering optical,infrared and (sub)millimetre-wave astronomy in Antarctica, and primarily at Dome C CONCORDIA on the Antarctic Plateau. It has been approved by the European Commission for a period of 4 years (2006-2009) as a Coordination Action of the Research Infrastructures Programme. It involves 22 research laboratories, institutes and industrial partners in 7 European countries (Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Portugal, Spain, and UK) and Australia. ARENA Leaflet English Version   French version   Italian Version The ARENA consortium has released the final version of its "Vision for European Astronomy and Astrophysics at the Antarctic station Concordia, Dome C in the next decade 2010-2020" (January 26, 2010).

Project summary

The Antarctic Plateau provides unique environmental conditions for astronomical observations. Astronomers are seriously considering Antarctica as a possible site for the construction of a new large observatory mainly dedicated to infrared and very high angular resolution observations to investigate extra-solar planets, the formation and evolution of planets, stars and galaxies, and cosmology. Two member states, Italy and France, have recently completed the all-year round operated station CONCORDIA at Dome C, in the heart of Antarctica. The present programme is aimed to structure, reinforce and network several European laboratories and operators involved or willing to be involved in Antarctic astronomical investigations with the final objective to set up state of the art large instruments and focal plane equipment in the coming decade. The network consists of 4 activities in addition of the overall management, NA1,

• NA2 concerns the site qualification
• NA3 aims to identify the technical constraints on the design of large astronomical instruments for polar environment emphasizing robotization
• NA4 will foster collaborations between the operators of CONCORDIA and their users to add value to CONCORDIA
• NA5 will focus on the selection of appropriate key scientific programs, implemented in synergy with other ground based observatories and space missions. The funds that granted by the EC will contribute to the currently on-going site qualification, and will help structuring the still dispersed and scarce teams of European astronomers through organizing specialized workshops putting operators, users and industrial partners in close contact, and annual large international Conferences. The networks will deliver a detailed report on the site qualification over a period of 5 years, industrial reports and studies addressing the problems of building large instruments at Dome C, a book of carefully selected scientific key-programmes, and recommendations on the timeline of instrumental developments.