We are constructing a 4-channel receiver at 810 GHz for use on the Antarctic Submillimeter Telescope and Remote Observatory located at the South Pole (AST/RO). The cold, dry conditions at the South Pole, coupled with its relatively high altitude (9,500 ft) make it an excellent location for observations at submillimeter wavelengths. Figure 1 is a photograph of the receiver `front-end' as it appears in the lab. The beam `footprint' of the array on NGC 6334 is shown in Figure 2. Each diffraction limited, half-power beam diameter is ~54". Our team currently has a dual channel receiver (referred to as `Wanda') on AST/RO that permits simultaneous observations at 810 and 492 GHz. A sample spectrum taken toward NGC 6334 at 806.652 GHz with this instrument earlier this season is shown in Figure 3. In a single spectrum, the CO J=7-6, [¹²C I] and [¹³C I] ³P₂-³P₁ can be observed. Pole STAR will increase the data throughput of AST/RO by at least a factor of 4 in this important wavelength regime.

Figure 3: Simultaneous ¹²CO J=7-6, [¹²C I] and [¹³C I] ³P₂-³P₁, observed with AST/RO.
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Figure 2: The Pole Star footprint on the sky.
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