Interferometer of the plate of Bore-hole

The network of radio telescopes of the Plate of Bore-hole constitutes a millimetre-length Interféromètre conceived by IRAM.

This one is located, as its name indicates it, on the plate of Bore-hole to 2552 m of altitude, in the solid mass of the Dévoluy (Hautes-Alpes) in the the French Alps.

Characteristics

The construction of this interferometer began in 1985, the first observations could be carried out in 1988.

This one currently consists of 6 antennas 15 m in diameter each one. Those are assembled on rails, which makes it possible to change their distance from separation according to the needs. Following the last work completed at the time of the summer 2005, maximum separation on the axis is/western is of 760 m while it is of 368 m on the NORTH-SOUTH axis. This allows the observation of emissions having a Wavelength of 1,3 mm (i.e. a wave having a frequency of 230 GHz).

The presence of this instrument allowed the continuation of more than 600 projects implying more than 300 astronomers whole world.

The interferometer was in 1999 the theater of two catastrophes, with an accident of the Téléphérique of access to the observatory following a lack of maintenance of this one, then of an accident of Hélicoptère in the months which followed because of the bad weather. These two accidents caused the death of more than 25 people.

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