Authors: Stephen L. Keil and the ATST Team
Affiliation: National Solar Observatory
High-resolution studies of the Sun's magnetic fields are needed for a better
understanding of solar magnetic fields and the fundamental processes responsible
for solar variability. The generation of magnetic fields through dynamo processes,
the amplification of fields through the interaction with plasma flows, and the
destruction of fields are still poorly understood. There is still incomplete
insight as to what physical mechanisms are responsible for heating the corona,
what causes variations in the radiative output of the Sun, and what mechanisms
trigger flares and coronal mass ejections. Progress in answering these critical
questions requires study of the interaction of the magnetic field and convection
with a resolution sufficient to observe scale fundamental to these processes.
The planned 4-m aperture ATST will be a unique scientific tool, with excellent
angular resolution, a large wavelength range, and low scattered light. With
its integrated adaptive optics, the ATST will achieve a spatial resolution nearly
10 times better than any existing solar telescope. Building a large aperture
telescope for viewing the sun presents many challenges, some of the more difficult
being:
This talk will present a short summary of the scientific questions driving the ATST design, the design challenges faced by the ATST, the current status of the developing design and siting considerations.