The European Southern Observatory’s revolutionary Andes spectrometer promises to find signs of life on other planets

Designed to search for biomarkers on exoplanets and discover primordial starsor Andes Mountains It will also explore possible fluctuations in the fundamental constants of physics and help measure the acceleration rate of the universe’s expansion.

Prestigious Cambridge University It is one of the collaborating institutions in this international project that includes scientists from 13 countries. Professor Roberto Maiolino, with links to the Cambridge Cavendish Laboratory Kavli Institute of Cosmology, He plays a crucial role in the ANDES team.

Formerly known as HIRES, ANDES is a A high-resolution spectrometer divides light into a wavelength spectrumThis allows astronomers to analyze the properties of celestial bodies, such as their chemical composition.

This device promises to achieve unprecedented accuracy in measuring wavelengths in the visible and near-infrared regions.. In synergy with the advanced mirror system of ELT telescopeAndes is positioned as an essential tool for advancing research in many astronomical disciplines.

Unprecedented fundamental physics

The principal researcher of the Andes, Alessandro Marconi, highlighted this phenomenon The enormous potential of the tool leads to revolutionary discoveries It could radically change our understanding of the universe, extending its influence far beyond the scientific realm.

It will carefully analyze the atmospheres of terrestrial exoplanets, Facilitating a comprehensive search for signs of life. It is also prepared to study the chemical composition of the most distant objects in the universe, namely The first device capable of identifying the fingerprints of the third group of starsthe oldest known in the universe.

Astronomers will also be able to Use the data collected to investigate whether fundamental constants of physics vary over time and space. Important data for directly calculating the acceleration of the expansion of the universe, one of the most interesting mysteries in current astrophysics.

like The scheduled start of operations at the end of this contractELT will become the largest observatory in the world, marking the beginning of a new era in terrestrial astronomy.

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The data collected will make it possible to investigate a series of topics covering most areas of astrophysics and even entering the field of fundamental physics. It has the potential to have a major impact on our understanding of the universe and its fate.

The most important scientific objectives of ANDES are:

• Describe the atmosphere of Earth-like exoplanets (with the ultimate goal of detecting signs of life);
• Recognition The first generation of stars;
• To study Possible differences in some basic constants Physics.
• Measure directly The expansion of the universe accelerated.

Thanks to the ELT’s huge main mirror, ANDES will be able to explore and characterize planets outside our solar system. After decades of discovering exoplanets, interest is now focused on observing and measuring their atmospheres; The ultimate goal is to detect signs of life.

It will be possible to study the chemical composition, stratification and climate of the atmospheres of many different types of exoplanets, from Neptune-like to Earth-like, including those in the habitable zones of stars. It will also be possible to observe the formation of the protoplanets and their effect on the protoplanetary disk at birth.

Advanced devices and technology

The basic design is that of a modular Echelle spectrometer supported by cross-dispersed fibres With two ultrastable spectral arms, visible and near-infrared, providing a simultaneous spectral range of 0.4 to 1.8 µm with a spectral resolving power of R~100,000 for a single object.

As it moves away from the Earth, Andes is likely to be the first instrument to unambiguously detect the imprints of the first generation of stars (“Population III” stars) that lit up the early universe. To this end, it will measure the abundance and chemical enrichment of supernova explosions.

In addition to astronomy, You will enter the territory of fundamental physics. Help determine whether some fundamental constants of physics, which regulate most physical processes in the universe, can effectively change over time or space.

Briefly, It will provide the most accurate tests of the fine structure constant and the electron-to-proton mass ratio. In addition to directly measuring the acceleration of the universe’s expansion, such a measurement would have a major impact on our understanding of the universe and its fate.