Transformational science with a (sub-)mm interferometer in the 2040s

Towards a next-generation ALMA-like observatory

Following the announcement from ESO about the start of the search for its next astronomical ground-based programme for the 2040s (ESO Expanding Horizons), the community is getting organized to prepare the science case for a new millimeter/sub-millimeter facility in the 2040s ("ALMA2040") which builds upon the successes of the current ALMA Observatory.

A series of workshops will take place in Europe in 2025 to discuss the scientific interest of the ESO community in such a facility, identify the key scientific questions to be addressed, and ultimately define the needed technical capabilities. ESO will issue a Call for Ideas in Q3/2026 with a deadline of 2027 June 1 (and a deadline of 2026 December 1 for Letters of Intent).

Here we aim to help coordinate the interests of the millimeter/sub-millimeter community.

Interested in contributing? Fill out this form to join a working group and/or submit a science pitch (<1 page).

Working Groups work on the following topics.

Workshops related to ALMA2040 are listed here.

Useful links

ALMA Observatory

White Paper: ASAC Recommendations for ALMA2030

Report of the Kavli-IAU Workshop on Global Coordination "Probing the Universe from far-infrared to millimeter wavelengths: future facilities and their synergies"

ESO Expanding Horizons -- Transforming Astronomy in the 2040s

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