The Javalambre - physics of the accelerated universe astrophysical survey

• Grant number: 13/50803-2
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• Start date: January 01, 2014
• End date: December 31, 2016
• Field of knowledge: Physical Sciences and Mathematics - Astronomy - Extragalactic Astrophysics
• Agreement: Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Cientificas (CSIC)
• Principal Investigator: Laerte Sodré Junior
• Grantee: Laerte Sodré Junior
• Principal researcher abroad: Narciso Benitez
• Institution abroad: Instituto de Astrofísica de Andalucía (IAA), Spain
• Host Institution: Instituto de Astronomia, Geofísica e Ciências Atmosféricas (IAG). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 12/00800-4 - The 3-D universe: astrophysics with large galaxy surveys, AP.TEM

Abstract

The Javalambre-Physics of the Accelerated Universe Astrophysical Survey (J-PAS) is a very wide field Cosmological and Astrophysical Survey to be carried out from the Javalambre Observatory in Spain with a purpose-built, dedicated 2.5m telescope, using a set of 54 narrow band and 5 broad band filters over a 1.2Gpix, 4.7deg^2 camera. Starting in 2015, J-PAS will image 8500deg^2 of Northern Sky and obtain 0.003(1 + z) precision photometric redshifts for 9 x 10^7 galaxies, about 50 times more than the largest current spectroscopic survey, sampling an effective volume of ~14 Gpc^3. Thanks to its innovative design, J-PAS will be the first experiment to reach Stage IV according to the Dark Energy Task Force classification, several years before other projects like Euclid or LSST start their operations. The instrumental development of this project involves a small fraction of the cost and complexity of a high multiplexing spectrograph, yet it will produce data which enable a much wider range of Astrophysical applications: J-PAS effectively uses a 4.7deg^2 "IFU" which will produce a low resolution 3D image of the Extragalactic Northern sky. Our survey will have a lasting legacy value, serving as a fundamental dataset for many astrophysical areas. (AU)