ALMA gets a new hydrogen maser

The Atacama Massive Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) has simply acquired a “coronary heart transplant,” excessive within the Atacama Desert in Northern Chile. ALMA, probably the most advanced astronomical observatory ever constructed on Earth, put in a brand new hydrogen maser. This improve marks a necessary funding, setting a brand new commonplace in reliability for observations.

A maser is a sophisticated atomic clock that makes use of the properties of the hydrogen atom to supply a particularly exact and steady frequency reference. This precision is essential for Very Lengthy Baseline Interferometry (VLBI) observations, enabling the synchronization of cosmic alerts acquired by networks of telescopes unfold throughout the globe. A quick however fascinating video brings collectively many voices throughout the worldwide ALMA group to share the method of the substitute and its significance.

The brand new maser, now the heartbeat of ALMA’s operations, ensures a excessive stage of accuracy important for detailed explorations of the universe. ALMA is a cornerstone of worldwide astronomy as a part of the Occasion Horizon Telescope, and different Very Lengthy Baseline Interferometry research, most famously revealing the primary picture of black hole M87* and Sagittarius A*, on the middle of our personal Milky Way galaxy.

The mixing of the brand new maser into the ALMA Array was aided by the Massachusetts Institute of Expertise Haystack Observatory. The unique maser stays working as a backup, strengthening ALMA’s resilience in opposition to potential system failures and guaranteeing dependable, steady astronomical analysis. This improve solidifies ALMA’s place on the forefront of astronomical analysis, enabling astronomers to uncover extra mysteries of the universe with better accuracy and reliability.