Bringing high spatial resolution to the Far-infrared -- A giant leap for astrophysics

TL;DR

This paper advocates for achieving sub-arcsecond spatial resolution in the far-infrared to unlock transformative insights into star and planet formation, water's role in proto-planetary disks, and galaxy dynamics.

Contribution

It highlights the scientific importance of high-resolution FIR observations and discusses the need for technological advancements to realize this capability.

Findings

FIR with high spatial resolution can revolutionize understanding of star and planet formation.

Water and molecular lines in FIR are crucial for studying astrophysical processes.

High-resolution FIR data will complement ground-based observations for comprehensive insights.

Abstract

The far-infrared (FIR) regime is one of the few wavelength ranges where no astronomical data with sub-arcsecond spatial resolution exist. Neither of the medium-term satellite projects like SPICA, Millimetron nor O.S.T. will resolve this malady. For many research areas, however, information at high spatial and spectral resolution in the FIR, taken from atomic fine-structure lines, from highly excited carbon monoxide (CO), light hydrids, and especially from water lines would open the door for transformative science. A main theme will be to trace the role of water in proto-planetary disks, to observationally advance our understanding of the planet formation process and, intimately related to that, the pathways to habitable planets and the emergence of life. Furthermore, key observations will zoom into the physics and chemistry of the star-formation process in our own Galaxy, as well as in external galaxies. The FIR provides unique tools to investigate in particular the energetics of heating, cooling and shocks. The velocity-resolved data in these tracers will reveal the detailed dynamics engrained in these processes in a spatially resolved fashion, and will deliver the perfect synergy with ground-based molecular line data for the colder dense gas.