附英文原文:
I am a retired astronomer (74 years) at the University of Copenhagen and have shared my activities between observational research (>400 papers with >13,000 citations) and instrument development. During 13 visits to China since 1986, I helped, i.a., to secure the detectors of the LAMOST project, and I chaired the ESO (European Southern Observatory) Scientific and Technical Committee for three years during the Very Large Telescope (VLT; 4x8 m) project. I finally directed the Nordic Optical Telescope (NOT) for 11 years. My colleague and wife Dr. Birgitta Nordström has a similar scientific profile and knowledge of China, but also vast experience with international reviews; we visited all proposing groups together, including that of Dr. Cui (who also attended the dinner at ‘our’ 70-year birthday symposium in Lijang in 2013).
The independent review panel members (listed in our final report) were chosen for their scientific and technical eminence in all aspects of modern large telescopes, which include the optical system, but also many other aspects affecting the quality of the image seen by the observer. As an additional condition, none was involved – especially financially – in this or any competing projects. The actual review of scientific, technical and operational merit was conducted on the basis of reports submitted by both proposing teams and presented for 45-minutes, followed by one hour of discussion. No instructions and no restrictions on our conclusions were received from the CAMS (if so, we would have resigned!), and no fees were requested by the panel. Our report was drafted by myself and iterated until the text and conclusions were approved unanimously. I hope it will soon be released for all to read, as we strongly urged.
The current confusion partly arises because the NIAOT design has theoretically perfect images which will, however, never be achieved in practice because of other effects. Modern telescope images are a more complex matter than can be expressed by the number of telescope mirrors.
The-intellectual: Based on the article published in Science, an international panel, led by you, reviewed the designs and recommended that the HUST design is better. Now the debate is continuing and the leader of the NIAOT design had successfully lobbied CAS for a second review and NIAOT design was supported by most reviewers in the meeting on 10th July.
Andersen: First, a correction: We did not say that "the HUST design is better", only that the the NIAOT design is not competitive in practice, because its theoretically excellent image quality can never be achieved in reality due to atmospheric and operational limitations, which are discussed in detail in our report.
Second, I am sure that readers of "The-intellectual" will appreciate the difference between an ever so illustrious panel of high-ranking people with a bound mandate and a financially directly interested 'customer', and our independent panel of external experts with no financial interests in the project (see above). The result is predictable.
The-intellectual: Can you describe the review process done by the international panel? For example, how did you accept the invitation? when did you arrive in China?
Andersen: See above as regards the panel and the process. I reluctantly accepted to chair the panel around March 1, this year, when I had satisfied myself that it would be a truly independent review, and I had the best all-round experience. I selected most of the panelists myself. I arrived in Beijing on April 1 and left on April 25, when I had sent a first draft report to the panelists.
The-intellectual: Do you still believe the conclusions of the report are correct?
Andersen: Yes, absolutely! Why would we change our opinion after all this work? There have been no new facts on this subject; we have nothing to gain from reviewing the same facts again, and our report could only make recommendations, not decide anything. If the CAS should choose the NIAOT design, it's their (future) problem, not ours! We have done our best for Chinese astronomy - take it or leave it. That Dr. Cui does not agree with our conclusions was already known in advance, but occasionally losing a friend or two is the risk one runs when facing the facts as a reviewer.