We present the latest results of our on-going closed-loop “end-to-end” numerical adaptive optics (AO) simulations concerning both a standard-AO and a three-star ground-layer AO system for a near-infrared 2-m class telescope at Dome C, Antarctica. We demonstrate that Dome C is an ideal site for wide-field AO-aided astronomy, define in details the AO system(s) optimized for the median turbulence profile considered, and finally show that a ~0.3 Strehl ratio and 200-mas-wide stable point-spread function is reached in band J on at least a 15'-diameter field.

We briefly outline the plans for scientific activities with the International Robotic Antarctic Infrared Telescope (IRAIT), recently mounted at Dome C. We summarize a few fields where infrared observations with the IRAIT telescope can be effective and we focus on a key project for the Commissioning Phase, namely the determination of the luminosity and of evolutionary parameters for evolved Long-Period Variables (LPVs).

The status of the AMICA project is reported. Final tests are currently running at Teramo Observatory before moving the instrument to Antarctica. AMICA is a camera equipped with two array detectors to perform astronomical imaging in the 2–28 μm band. It will be mounted at the IRAIT focal plane. Its very special feature is the antarctic operability. AMICA subsystems have been tested at typical antarctic conditions, in order to adopt technological solutions that ensure the correct operation of AMICA even on the antarctic plateau. Moreover, since human operations are not possible during the antarctic “winter", AMICA has been designed to operate in a completely automatic mode. AMICA is essentially aimed to demonstrate the potential of Antarctica for Infrared Astronomy and should therefore produce significant data, both for astronomy and site-testing. In addition, the experience gained in its technological development will be useful for building future astronomical instruments for extreme environment sites.

The Antarctic Multi-band Infrared Camera is a NIR/MIR double armed camera operating in the K, L, M, N, Q photometrical bands that will be mounted at one of the F/21.65 IRAIT Nasmyth foci (Tosti et al. 2006; Dolci et al. 2009). AMICA will host two detectors: the short wavelength radiation, 1-5.5 µm NIR band, is sensed by a Raytheon CRC-463 InSb 256 × 256 detector, while the long wavelengths 7-25 µm MIR band – is served by a DRS Technologies BIB Si:As 128 × 128 pixels array optimized for moderate photon flux. A fully reflective optical system, composed of two off-axis parabolic mirrors and one fixed 45° flat mirror, achieves a common, optimized, focal ratio reduction to F/14.73 at the detectors focal plane. Taking advantage from the large difference in pixel size between the NIR/MIR detectors, the resulting field-of-view will be 2.29 × 2.29 arcmin2 and 2.87 × 2.87 arcmin2 on the NIR and MIR array, respectively. In the present paper we report on the successful tests of the NIR/ MIR multiplexers functionality at the maximum required readout frequency.

We have carried out a conceptual design study for a near-infrared (NIR) wide-field camera and a mid-infrared (MIR) camera-spectrograph for a 2.5 m telescope at Dome C. The main scientific drivers are the characterisation of young embedded objects, the evolution of crystalline silicates in circumstellar disks and the observation of exoplanet secondary transits. Both instrument exploit the unique features of Dome C: improved infrared transmission, reduced sky background, superb seeing, low temperature, and increased atmospheric stability. The NIR camera covers the wavelength range 0.8–5.5 μm and is optimized for the Kdark and L bands. The MIR instrument is sensitive in the range 7–40 μm with a possible extension to the sub-mm. It is optimized for the Q window, including the Q+ extended portion (25–40 μm) only observable from the Antarctic Plateau.

The Phase A design study of PILOT–the Pathfinder for an International Large Optical Telescope–has demonstrated that a wide-field 2.5 m optical/IR telescope can be constructed at Concordia for a reasonable cost. There are no technical “show stoppers”, and the cost of logistics is also quantifiable and reasonable. A strong science case has been developed and published as three separate papers. In order to proceed further, the next step is to undertake a detailed design study and identify potential manufacturers.

Construction of PILOT at the existing French/Italian Concordia Station at Dome C in Antarctica would bring about major benefits for the astronomical research activities of the European and international astronomical communities. Because of these potential benefits, it is proposed that the PILOT Project move into Phase B–the Preliminary Design Phase. The output from the study will be a Conceptual Design Report allowing policy makers and their advisors to prepare relevant strategic decisions for the detailed development (final design), manufacturing and installation of the PILOT astronomical research infrastructure at Dome C.

Spectrophotometric data at near- and mid-infrared (IR) wavelengths are crucial to understand the main evolutionary properties of the Asymptotic Giant Branch (AGB) phase. They can be used to reveal relations between spectral features at near-IR wavelengths and parameters obtained with mid-IR photometric observations (i.e. bolometric luminosity). We are performing such an analysis on a sample of Galactic AGB stars: spectrophotometric data from the IRTS satellite are studied and compared with observations in the mid-IR range obtained by other instruments. In this contribution we present preliminary results for a sub-sample of C-rich sources. We show which spectral features in the 1–4 μm region are most enhanced in the C-rich stars and explore how these features relate with the bolometric stellar luminosity. Finally, we comment on how an Antarctic IR telescope at Dome C will help this research by observations of AGB sources in the Galaxy and in the Magellanic Clouds.

Near-infrared spectro-photometry, at a spectral resolution of ~100, allows to characterize a great variety of stellar sources, from late-type giants to emission line stars. Various components of the interstellar medium, including circumstellar environments and Planetary Nebulae, can also be traced. We propose AIFU, a fiber-fed near-infrared low-resolution spectrograph. With a 1'×1' field of view and a 2'' sampling, AIFU will be well suited to survey spectroscopically stellar populations in large areas of the Galaxy and of the Magellanic Clouds, as e.g. star-forming regions, as well as to image extended sources, like circumstellar shells around nearby evolved stars, PDRs, simultaneously in many different emission lines.

The ARENA consortium proposes the construction and operation of a 2 meter class telescope at Dôme C dedicated to wide field imaging, and driven by major astrophysical key projects. We present here the foreseen contribution of the Observatoire de Lyon, concerning the data management and the databases.

Due to its location and climate, Antarctica offers unique conditions for long-period observations across a broad wavelength regime, where important diagnostic lines for molecules and ions can be found, that are essential to understand the chemical properties of the interstellar medium. In addition to the natural benefits of the site, new technologies, resulting from astrophotonics, may allow miniaturised instruments, that are easier to winterise and advanced filters to further reduce the background in the infrared.

The goal of the working group was to define and realize a pre-feasibility study of an Antarctic interferometer dedicated to the characterization of exozodis with the sensitivity required (30 zodis 5 σ detection) to discriminate sources suitable for future exoearth spectroscopic analysis. The engineering study was carried out at AMOS, based on a concept by Thalès Alenia Space derived from the GENIE instrument studied for ESA. Particular emphasis was put on the compatibility with Concordia logistic and operational constraints, for which input was provided by IPEV through long visits by a system engineer student, Xavier Daudigeos. The preliminary results are encouraging enough so that we recommend to move forward with a proposal for full industrial feasibility study that could be submitted to FP7 and/or to ESA.

During the next decade, the European Very Large Telescope Interferometer (vlti) will remain one of the most productive existing optical interferometers. Costly space missions will not soon provide new steps in sensitivity, imaging capability and higher resolution. Hence, although they represent the long term future, it is wise for groud-based interferometry to look beyond the horizon 2020 and to prepare for it, even if large projects mobilize today nearly all available European resources.
The context of the vlti decision, the situation in optical interferometry today and the critical role of site seeing for performances are recalled. Given what is known of Antarctica sites, it appears relevant to pursue their study for interferometric use. Possible steps may be within the European Southern Observatory for seeing studies and independently at Concordia with a modest interferometer (e.g.alladin). It may pave the way for the future of interferometry, to be decided in a decade or so.

Optical Interferometry has had an impressive 30-year run of innovation, prototyping and implementation. Some half-dozen arrays are now in operation. Publications are increasing exponentially. In a future phase of advanced facility development, interferometry could move in any of several directions: increased sensitivity, higher resolution, better imaging. What role may the Antarctic have in the future?

Performed in November 2007, the observation of the hot Jupiter-like exoplanet Gliese 86b constituted the first attempt of exoplanet detection with MIDI, and also the first VLTI observation using AMBER and MIDI simultaneously. Fringes were obtained for both instruments with the aim to correct the interferometric phase in N-band from the wet dispersion using the fringes in K-band. In N-band, it appears that the theoretical interferometric phase would be a curved-like function with an amplitude of about 0.04°. According to the MIDI phase measurements of the calibrator HD 9362, we roughly estimate that a precision of about 0.33° is currently reached. The AMBER data, obtained in parallel, were too noisy for correcting the corresponding dispersion in N band, the correction accuracy standing at factor 10 above the detection. Dome C presents a very low absolute humidity level. In homogeneous humidity conditions, the curvature amplitude of the phase term due to water vapor, is also ten times smaller than the MIDI one, and may stand below the planetary phase signature. However differential humidity measurements would be required to completely validate the potential of this site.

The ALADDIN project aims at detecting warm dust populations around nearby main sequence stars. In order to achieve the significantly improved sensitivity with respect to existing instruments, the architecture of the system is focused and optimised for the mission: ALADDIN implements the nulling interferometry technique at the focal plane of a 2-telescope interferometer mounted on a rotating structural beam.
Concerning the beam combining nulling instrument, the ALADDIN design is inherited from a Definition Study of the VLTI/GENIE instrument. In this paper, we demonstrate how the ALADDIN instrument preliminary definition can be made simpler and more representative of a space instrument than GENIE thanks to both the outstanding atmospheric properties of Dome C and the dedicated architecture of the system. Finally, we discuss the compatibility of the instrument with the Antarctic environment and constraints, and underline the experimental and industrial know-how learnt from the MAII and PERSEE nulling breadboards in which our Team is also involved.

In this paper, we describe the expected performance of ALADDIN, a nulling interferometer project optimised for operation at Dome C. After reviewing the main atmospheric parameters pertaining to infrared interferometry on the high Antarctic plateau, we shortly describe the ALADDIN instrument and compute its estimated performance in terms of the smallest exozodiacal dust disc density that can be detected. Our estimations are based on a thorough end-to-end software simulator previously developed for the GENIE nulling interferometer project at VLTI. We then propose a possible mission scenario, where the southern target stars of future exo-Earth characterisation missions can be surveyed for the presence of bright exozodiacal discs (>50 zodi) within one winter-over at Concordia.

Site studies have proved Dome C to be an excellent site for optical interferometry, maybe the only possible site on Earth for the deployement of a large post-VLTI interferometric facility, like KEOPS. Indeed, recent studies have shown the possiblity of interferometric observations of faint objects, high sensitivity and high precision observations, direct imaging and nulling interferometry. However the achievement of this ambitious project assumes the pavement of a roadmap, including different steps. The first one should be a demonstrator, called Mykerinos. Mykerinos is a diluted aperture interferometer composed of at least two light collecting units with a baseline between 40 to 100 m (or more) consisting of  50 cm diameter telescopes. The telescope design is directly derived from our Laboratory's experience in the ASTEP experiment. Mykerinos will be equipped with a dual field focal instrument which is a pre-requisite for its site testing, as well as for its science demonstration purposes.

This report aims to provide a summary of the status of our Antarctic Submillimetre Telescope (AST) project up to date. It is a very new project for Antarctic astronomy. Necessary prerequisites for a future deployment of a large size telescope infrastructure have been tested in years 2007 and 2008. The knowledge of the transmission, frost formation and temperature gradient were fundamental parameters before starting a feasibility study. The telescope specifications and requirements are currently discussed with the industrial partnership.

The THz spectral region includes a number of important transitions which allow us to trace the evolution of the interstellar medium. Because of the opacity of the atmosphere in this spectral range, the best sites for ground-based THz observations are on the Antarctic Plateau; of these sites, Dome A is expected to be the best. THz survey science can be carried out with small telescopes, easing logistical constraints. By deploying a submillimetre-wave tipper/ telescope to Dome A, we have trialled several technologies for such an instrument, and we are able to test whether the site quality is sufficient for THz surveys.