2014 KIAA-PKU Astrophysics Forum
Thirty Meter Telescope in China: Scientific and Technological Frontiers
Nov 2-4, Kavli Institute for Astronomy and Astrophysics, Peking University
Co-Hosted by Kavli Institute for Astronomy and Astrophysics, Peking University and National Astronomical Observatories
With the construction to start imminently in October 2014, the Thirty Meter Telescope (TMT) is no longer a distant future. TMT will be one of the most powerful telescopes in the history of astronomy, and it will be one of the greatest astronomical facilities China will possess in the beginning of the 21st century. It will bring unprecedented opportunity to Chinese astronomy. How to achieve scientific and technical readiness for TMT to maximize its impact is a great challenge that the Chinese astronomy community is facing.
We set the theme for this year's KIAA-PKU Astrophysics Forum to discuss the scientific and technological frontiers of the TMT. On the one hand, the conference plans to offer prospects on how Chinese astronomers can make potential breakthroughs in astrophysics frontiers. Participants will discuss how to organically relate their short-term research with the long-term goals relevant to TMT. The conference will cover diverse fields, including cosmology, galaxy formation and evolution, active galactic nuclei and black hole physics, stars and stellar systems, and extrasolar planets. We will also discuss the coordination between TMT and other large astronomical projects in China, in order to maximize their scientific impact and enhance China's capacity in astronomy across the full spectrum. On the other hand, the conference will discuss China's technological involvement in the TMT. Scientists and engineers will meet under the same roof to discuss how to finalize the TMT instrument specifications in order to optimize for the science objectives as well as reach deeper a understanding of the instruments to plan and design better science projects.
We invite broad participation from the entire astronomical community in China.
