Star Formation at Dome C: Sub-millimeter Line Observations

Abstract

Dome C is one of the best sites on the Earth for carrying outsub-millimeter astronomical observations. Specifically, given the extremely dryatmosphere, the Tera-Hertz bands at 1000, 1300 and 1500 GHz, open up for areasonable fraction of the time. Since these bands are presently almost notobservable with ground based telescopes elsewhere on the Earth, observations inthose bands have been only possible with airborne and/or satellite telescopes sofar. This implies indeed that very few observations have been carried out inthose bands, and with very reduced spatial and spectral resolutions, althoughsome important molecular transitions fall there. In this contribution, we reviewthe studies relevant to the Star Formation topics, which can be done in thethree Tera-Hertz bands, and compare with existing and/or planned facilities. Inparticular, we consider the two proposed possibilities of a 12 m single dishoperating in the three bands (ASO proposal: see Olmi contribution), and of an $3{\times}$ 2 m antennae interferometer operating at 1500 GHz (HEAT, a variation of the API proposal: see Swain contribution). In our opinion, the second possibilityhas a greater chance to provide really unique observations with respect to existingor planned facilities in the sub-millimeter range.