Modeling Results and Implications for Astronomy at Dome C

Abstract

Modeling of astronomically important atmosphericparameters, and the impact these parameters have on instrumentperformance, is a powerful tool for assessing the astronomicalpotential of Antarctic sites. This paper summarizes some of thesignificant findings from a combination of regional climate modelingand adaptive optics simulations. Together with estimates of the skybackground, this work strongly implies that the unique astronomicalpotential of Dome C – work that can be done at no other location – ishigh angular resolution science. In particular, the simulations showthat diffraction limited resolution in the optical is possible with amodest AO system deployed on a telescope mounted above the Antarcticboundary layer. This potential strongly differentiates Dome C fromother sites and suggests a tower-mounted, AO equipped, ~2.5 mclass telescope, located at Dome C, could be the premier visibleimaging observatory in the post-HST era.