研究期間：10308~10407;A comprehensive five-year program with a view to promote the optical and infrared astronomy in Taiwan is proposed. The purpose is to follow a road map partly in cooperation with the Caltech Optical Observatories (COO) of California Institute of Technology for the study of transient phenomena, and partly to enhance the scientific capability of the Lulin Observatory and the technical expertise and international visibility of local industry and national laboratories. The expected results include the strong scientific participation of Taiwan in the major observational program of COO at Palomar Observatory starting with the PTF (Palomar Transient Factory) and to be followed by iPTF in 2013 which will employ the SED Machine spectro-photometric imaging instrument of novel design. The PTF-2 project to be commenced in 2015 – with Taiwan as a founding member - will use a CCD camera with a field of view of 40 sq. deg. The PTF-2 project is going to be one of the most powerful all sky survey for transients. Taiwan’s contribution to the corresponding software development will consolidate our role in advanced astronomical projects in future. It is expected that Taiwan’s OIR astronomy will become world class in a number of chosen areas by 2016-2017 according to this road map. The operation and buildup of Taiwan’s Lulin Observatory and the implementation of a near infrared camera on the 2m telescope will make it a regional center of excellence for astronomical education and research serving the Asian scientific community. The partnership in the design and construction of a copy of the SED Machine with the Instrument Technology Research Center (ITRC) of the National Applied Research Laboratories (NARL) and the R/D effort in sensors such as CMOS will path the way for Taiwan’s entry into advanced instrumentation at the forefront of OIR astronomy for ground-based and space telescopes.
