Science drivers Clause Samples

Science drivers. The far-infrared region, which encompasses the spectral range from 30 to 300µm, contains a wealth of information about the cold Universe. Observations of gas and dust probe the earliest stages in the formation of galaxies, stars and planets. The recent success of the ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Space Observatory has highlighted the importance of studying astrophysics in the far-IR region. However, the limited angular resolution afforded by ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ mean that the study of some of the most critical astrophysical phenomena, which are often found on small size-scales, remains elusive. The FIRI concept was proposed to fill the “resolution gap” by providing detail on sub-arcsecond scales in the far-IR, as a complement, for example, to the ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ Space telescope (JWST) at shorter wavelengths (near IR) and the Atacama Large Millimeter/Submillimeter Array (▇▇▇▇) at longer (300µm onwards). The primary goal of such a mission is thus to carry out ultra-sensitive observations at high angular resolution in the far-infrared region of the electromagnetic spectrum. The science case has been put together based on a mission that will achieve the following three main goals: 1. That will operate in the far-infrared region of the spectrum addressing a number of key scientific objectives, hitherto unanswered; 2. Will have the sensitivity and resolving power to measure a number of key ionic, atomic and molecular lines over a range of astrophysical phenomena; 3. Has sufficient angular resolution to be able to probe the previously unexplored inner regions of astrophysical phenomena, e.g. nuclei of galaxies, circumstellar disks and star-forming cores.