2/21/2020

The Daniel K. Inouye Solar Telescope (DKIST) is a next generation ground based solar telescope being constructed on Haleakala, Maui, Hawai'i. DKIST combines a 4m off-axis Gregorian telescope, with advanced adaptive optics and a complex, highly configurable instrument suite designed to observe the sun in unprecedented spatial, spectral and temporal resolution. This will allow DKIST to observe closer to the length scales of some of the fundamental processes of the sun, enabling us to deepen our understanding of the creation and interaction of magnetic fields, and understand the structure and dynamics of the solar atmosphere, including flares and eruptive phenomena. DKIST will also provide valuable input into the modeling the origins of solar activities that modulate for example, solar irradiance and also drive space weather events.

In this talk I will describe the telescope and the instrument suite, and discuss the science that is planned with DKIST. I will also mention some of the challenges that come with constructing the telescope and also the Data Center which will handle and calibrate the approximately 8 TB of data a day, DKIST will produce in operation.