[Paper Review] A Roadmap for Canadian Submillimetre Astronomy

Tracy Webb, S. C. Chapman+5 more|arXiv (Cornell University)|Dec 18, 2013

Atmospheric Ozone and Climate3 citations

TL;DR

This roadmap outlines a strategic plan for Canadian submillimetre astronomy through 2020, advocating for sustained funding in key facilities like the JCMT and CCAT, continued participation in ALMA and SPICA, and support for focused PI-led experiments. It emphasizes maintaining Canada’s leadership in submillimetre science by securing long-term access to world-class instruments and infrastructure.

ABSTRACT

We survey the present landscape in submillimetre astronomy for Canada and describe a plan for continued engagement in observational facilities to ~2020. Building on Canada's decadal Long Range Plan process, we emphasize that continued involvement in a large, single-dish facility is crucial given Canada's substantial investment in ALMA and numerous PI-led submillimetre experiments. In particular, we recommend: i) an extension of Canadian participation in the JCMT until at least the unique JCMT Legacy Survey program is able to realize the full scientific potential provided by the world-leading SCUBA-2 instrument; and ii) involvement of the entire Canadian community in CCAT, with a large enough share in the partnership for Canadian astronomers to participate at all levels of the facility. We further recommend continued participation in ALMA development, involvement in many focused PI-led submillimetre experiments, and partnership in SPICA.

Motivation & Objective

• To ensure Canada maintains its leadership in submillimetre/millimetre (SMM) astronomy amid shifting funding and facility transitions.
• To address the critical risk of losing access to the JCMT and the absence of funding for CCAT, which threaten Canada’s scientific capacity in SMM.
• To recommend long-term funding mechanisms for key facilities and experiments to sustain the Canadian SMM user community and scientific output.
• To advocate for Canada’s continued involvement in major international facilities like ALMA, SPICA, and balloon-borne experiments.
• To provide a costed, actionable plan for funding JCMT, CCAT, SPICA, and PI projects through national agencies and private partnerships.

Proposed method

• Conducting a comprehensive review of the current SMM observational landscape in Canada, including access to ALMA, JCMT, Herschel, GBT, JVLA, and PI-led experiments.
• Analyzing user community trends, such as the tripling of JCMT PI proposals from 14 to 49 between 2011 and 2012, to assess scientific demand and facility utilization.
• Evaluating the scientific and technical merits of future facilities, including CCAT, SPICA, and ALMA, based on their complementary roles in SMM astronomy.
• Assessing funding models for ongoing operations, including NRC management, CFI, NSERC, and private donations, to ensure sustainability.
• Proposing a phased funding strategy: $500k/year for JCMT operations, $35M for CCAT construction, and ongoing support for PI experiments via CSA, CFI, and NSERC.
• Outlining a transition plan from JCMT to CCAT, with NRC as a potential operational partner to ensure continuity and archival expertise.

Experimental results

Research questions

• RQ1 How can Canada sustain its leadership in submillimetre astronomy amid the planned withdrawal from the JCMT and lack of funding for CCAT?
• RQ2 What funding mechanisms can ensure long-term access to the JCMT and CCAT for the Canadian SMM community?
• RQ3 How can Canada maximize scientific return from its investments in ALMA, SPICA, and PI-led experiments like EBEX and Super BLAST-Pol?
• RQ4 What role should national agencies like NRC, CFI, NSERC, and CSA play in supporting the next generation of SMM facilities and projects?
• RQ5 How can Canada ensure that its scientific community remains competitive in SMM research through coordinated, long-term planning?

Key findings

• Canada’s SMM user community has grown significantly, with JCMT PI proposals tripling from 14 to 49 between 2011 and 2012, indicating strong demand for continued access.
• The JCMT’s operating cost is $4.7M (US) annually, with Canada currently contributing 25%, implying a required annual funding of $500k to sustain operations.
• CCAT’s construction cost is estimated at $35M, which is within reach of a single or small number of private donors, but ongoing operations require stable public funding.
• Canada’s participation in ALMA has grown from 23 to 55 users between Cycle 0 and Cycle 1, demonstrating strong scientific engagement and return on investment.
• PI-led experiments such as EBEX, Spider, Super BLAST-Pol, and POLARBEAR are critical for addressing focused scientific questions at low cost and high agility.
• The Canadian Space Agency (CSA) has previously funded $100M in space missions (e.g., JWST, Herschel, Planck), but current budget constraints limit new funding, necessitating sustained advocacy for science funding.