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Published 2018 | Version Published
Book Section - Chapter Open

The ngVLA Science Case and Associated Science Requirements

Creators

  • 1. ROR icon California Institute of Technology
  • 2. ROR icon Jet Propulsion Lab

Abstract

The science case and associated science requirements for a next-generation Very Large Array (ngVLA) are described, highlighting the five key science goals developed out of a community-driven vision of the highest scientific priorities in the next decade. Building on the superb cm observing conditions and existing infrastructure of the VLA site in the U.S. Southwest, the ngVLA is envisaged to be an interferometric array with more than 10 times the sensitivity and spatial resolution of the current VLA and ALMA, operating at frequencies spanning ∼ 1.2 − 116 GHz with extended baselines reaching across North America. The ngVLA will be optimized for observations at wavelengths between the exquisite performance of ALMA at submm wavelengths, and the future SKA-1 at decimeter to meter wavelengths, thus lending itself to be highly complementary with these facilities. The ngVLA will be the only facility in the world that can tackle a broad range of outstanding scientific questions in modern astronomy by simultaneously delivering the capability to: (1) unveil the formation of Solar System analogues; (2) probe the initial conditions for planetary systems and life with astrochemistry; (3) characterize the assembly, structure, and evolution of galaxies from the first billion years to the present; (4) use pulsars in the Galactic center as fundamental tests of gravity; and (5) understand the formation and evolution of stellar and supermassive blackholes in the era of multi-messenger astronomy.

Copyright and License

© 2018 Astronomical Society of the Pacific.

Acknowledgement

The authors thank the 100’s of community members that have contributed to the definition of the ngVLA science mission and corresponding science requirements. The National Radio Astronomy Observatory is a facility of the National Science Foundation operated under cooperative agreement by Associated Universities, Inc. Part of this work was carried out at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, under contract with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration.

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Additional details

Related works

Describes
Book Section - Chapter: https://www.aspbooks.org/a/volumes/article_details/?paper_id=38660 (URL)
Is new version of
Discussion Paper: arXiv:1810.07524 (arXiv)

Funding

Associated Universities, Inc.
NASA/JPL/Caltech

Caltech Custom Metadata

Caltech groups
Astronomy Department, Division of Geological and Planetary Sciences (GPS), Division of Physics, Mathematics and Astronomy (PMA)
Series Name
Monograph (Astronomical Society of the Pacific)
Series Volume or Issue Number
7
Publication Status
Published