MSV-2035 Astronomy Document - Inside Design - FINAL - FINAL

Astronomy & Astrophysics 112 10 SUMMARY AND RECOMMENDATIONS International scientific communities periodically formulate Vision Documents to identify thrust areas of research and define priorities to make progress in science in an efficient and focused manner. In the year 2004, the IndianAcademy of Sciences brought out a Vision Document for IndianAstronomy &Astrophysics for the next decade. It is gratifying and reassuring to see that several recommendations in that document have now been realised. The community has grown many fold. In addition, the Indian Astronomy community has embarked on several major international mega science projects that will put Indian astrophysics at the forefront of research and technology in the coming decades.All this makes the present moment the right time to put forward a comprehensive Mega Science Vision Document for Astronomy&Astrophysics extending to 2035. Summary: A basic introduction to this document is provided in Section 1. Section 2 of this document provides a pedagogical listing of various leading science questions that the astronomy community wishes to address in the coming decade. Subject areas covered include (i) fundamental physics, (ii) early Universe and Cosmology, (iii) galaxy formation and large scale structure, (iv) nearby galaxies, (v) Milky Way galaxy and its interstellar medium, (vi) cosmic chemistry, (vii) compact objects and black holes, (viii) transient and time-domainmulti-messenger astronomy, (ix) exo-planetary science and (x) solar physics. Some of the key questions that will be addressed using observations, numerical simulations and theoretical analysis in the coming two decades are the following: test of variance/invariance of fundamental constants; test of General Relativity, particularly, in the strong gravity limit, i.e., near compact objects and on extragalactic scales; the nature of dark matter and dark energy and their interpretation from a fundamental particle physics viewpoint; formation and evolution of galaxies and their relation with their central SMBH; launching, collimation and acceleration of powerful jets from the center of active galaxies; chemical evolution of our Galaxy; formation and evolution of cosmic magnetism, formation of star-planet systems; earth-size rocky planets located in the habitable zone of their parent star; solar activity and its impact on the space environments of solar system planets; astronomical transients and their follow-up observations that may open up significant discovery space for new astronomical/astrophysical phenomena. Section 3 provides a summary of how the international community is planning to address the key astronomy and astrophysics questions in the coming decade. As the technical and financial demands are huge, most of the upcoming international projects are multi-national and multi-institutional in nature. Thus, it becomes imperative to be part of such consortia to be able to lead important scientific programmes. Even within a consortium, several important questions are addressed using (i) large dedicated survey facilities, (ii) “large observing programmes” with several tens of observing nights dedicated to a specific project and (iii) network of observatories operating at different wavebands located in different parts of the world and space. Thus, in addition to being part of a mega science project, it is important to have a clear plan to derive maximum scientific outputs. This Section also indicates some of the niche areas for the Indian astronomy community tomake a significant impact. Section 4 summarizes the status of national R&D efforts. First part of this Section provides a historical perspective and the scientific impact that the Indian community has made in different aspects of Astronomy & Astrophysics. The MEGA SCIENCE VISION-2035