UK Participation in the Pre-production Phase of the Cherenkov Telescope Array 2015-2017
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Leicester
Department Name: Physics and Astronomy
Abstract
The Universe is full of particles with energies so high that they are travelling at very close to the speed of light. They affect the Universe in many ways, influencing the life-cycles of stars and the evolution of galaxies. These particles are hard to trace, but can reveal their presence by producing gamma rays. Like their lower-energy cousins, X-rays, gamma rays do not penetrate the Earth's atmosphere and usually satellite-based telescopes are used to detect them. However, at very high energies (VHE) there are so few gamma rays that detecting them using spacecraft becomes impossible. Luckily, it is possible to observe them from the ground via the flashes of blue light, Cherenkov radiation, produced when they interact in the atmosphere. The glow from Cherenkov radiation in the atmosphere is 10,000 times fainter than starlight, so large mirrors are required to collect it, and because the flashes last only a few billionths of a second, ultra-fast cameras are needed to record them.
We know from current ground-based gamma-ray telescopes such as HESS that there is a wealth of phenomena to be studied. VHE gamma ray telescopes have detected the remains of supernova explosions, binary star systems, highly energetic jets produced by black holes in distant galaxies, star formation regions, and many other objects. These observations can help us to understand not only what is going on inside these objects, but also answer fundamental physics questions relating to the nature of Dark Matter and of space-time itself. However, we have reached the limit of what can be done with current instruments, and so about 1000 scientists from 29 countries around the world have come together to build a new instrument - the Cherenkov Telescope Array (CTA).
CTA will offer a dramatic increase in sensitivity over current instruments and extend the energy range of the gamma rays observed to both lower and higher values. It is predicted that the catalogue of known VHE emitting objects will expand from the 130 known now to over 1000, and we can expect many new discoveries in key areas of astrophysics and fundamental physics. To achieve the energy coverage of CTA, telescopes of three different sizes are needed: Small (~4 m diameter), Medium (12 m) and Large (23 m) Sized Telescopes (SSTs, MSTs and LSTs, respectively). CTA will have arrays in the northern and southern hemispheres. The northern array will consist of 4 LSTs and 25 MSTs. The southern array will add to its 4 LSTs and 25 MSTs an extensive array of 70 SSTs, to investigate the highest energy phenomena, visible mainly in the southern sky. We expect construction of the first telescopes on the CTA southern site to start in 2017.
There are currently 12 UK universities and Laboratories involved in CTA. The UK groups are concentrating their efforts on the construction of the SSTs. We have produced an innovative dual-mirror SST design, the Gamma-ray Cherenkov Telescope (GCT), which is being prototyped in sight of the Eiffel Tower in Paris, and are building two prototype cameras, with different sensors, we will test on this device. Here we ask for finding to complete tests of these cameras, use the results to design the final camera for the GCT and to build, with international partners, three of these for installation on GCTs on the CTA southern site. We also want to work with UK industry to provide mirrors for the telescope that are better and cheaper than current designs, as well as improving aspects of the GCT structure. Finally, we want to develop data analysis techniques for CTA, to ensure that UK scientists are ready to analyse the data from CTA as soon as the first telescopes start operation.
We know from current ground-based gamma-ray telescopes such as HESS that there is a wealth of phenomena to be studied. VHE gamma ray telescopes have detected the remains of supernova explosions, binary star systems, highly energetic jets produced by black holes in distant galaxies, star formation regions, and many other objects. These observations can help us to understand not only what is going on inside these objects, but also answer fundamental physics questions relating to the nature of Dark Matter and of space-time itself. However, we have reached the limit of what can be done with current instruments, and so about 1000 scientists from 29 countries around the world have come together to build a new instrument - the Cherenkov Telescope Array (CTA).
CTA will offer a dramatic increase in sensitivity over current instruments and extend the energy range of the gamma rays observed to both lower and higher values. It is predicted that the catalogue of known VHE emitting objects will expand from the 130 known now to over 1000, and we can expect many new discoveries in key areas of astrophysics and fundamental physics. To achieve the energy coverage of CTA, telescopes of three different sizes are needed: Small (~4 m diameter), Medium (12 m) and Large (23 m) Sized Telescopes (SSTs, MSTs and LSTs, respectively). CTA will have arrays in the northern and southern hemispheres. The northern array will consist of 4 LSTs and 25 MSTs. The southern array will add to its 4 LSTs and 25 MSTs an extensive array of 70 SSTs, to investigate the highest energy phenomena, visible mainly in the southern sky. We expect construction of the first telescopes on the CTA southern site to start in 2017.
There are currently 12 UK universities and Laboratories involved in CTA. The UK groups are concentrating their efforts on the construction of the SSTs. We have produced an innovative dual-mirror SST design, the Gamma-ray Cherenkov Telescope (GCT), which is being prototyped in sight of the Eiffel Tower in Paris, and are building two prototype cameras, with different sensors, we will test on this device. Here we ask for finding to complete tests of these cameras, use the results to design the final camera for the GCT and to build, with international partners, three of these for installation on GCTs on the CTA southern site. We also want to work with UK industry to provide mirrors for the telescope that are better and cheaper than current designs, as well as improving aspects of the GCT structure. Finally, we want to develop data analysis techniques for CTA, to ensure that UK scientists are ready to analyse the data from CTA as soon as the first telescopes start operation.
Planned Impact
CTA will have an impact on a wide range of scientific questions, from the nature of gravity to how supernovae accelerate particles and how active galaxies work. In doing so, it will use new and innovative methodologies, combining techniques from both astronomy and particle physics. In the process, many highly-skilled researchers will be trained.
UK industry stands to gain both from knowledge transfer and by way of contracts for producing electronics, camera housings, mirrors and structural elements. Much of this work will be undertaken in areas of economic deprivation (e.g. North East England, North Wales) thereby contributing to regeneration and economic development. Initial development work will take place over the next 2 years, with contracts likely being placed in the following 2-3 years.
The atmosphere is an important element of our detectors, and our Monte Carlo simulations already use data from the British Atmospheric Data Centre. Wherever the telescopes are sited, it is likely to be in an area short of detailed weather data for input to climate models. CTA's weather data are therefore likely to be useful to atmospheric modellers.
The public awareness and understanding of science will be enhanced by CTA. Our scientific research covers topics of considerable interest to the public, including black holes, supernova explosions and dark matter. We have already had considerable engagement with the public through events such as Stargazing Live and the Royal Society Summer Science Exhibition, as well as giving many talks to local interest groups (Women's Institute, astronomical societies etc.) and schools. These activities will be continued and enhanced during the next few years as CTA matures as an observatory.
Early stage researchers will gain a wide range of skills from working on CTA, in areas such as programming, electronics, modelling of complex systems, image analysis etc. In addition, they will gain the 'soft skills' which come from working with people from a wide range of cultural backgrounds in the international CTA Consortium. These skills will fit them for non-academic professions. For example, recent Ph.D. graduates who have worked in CTA have already gone on to careers in teaching and software engineering and we expect many more skilled people to move into non-academic careers over the 30 year lifetime of CTA.
UK industry stands to gain both from knowledge transfer and by way of contracts for producing electronics, camera housings, mirrors and structural elements. Much of this work will be undertaken in areas of economic deprivation (e.g. North East England, North Wales) thereby contributing to regeneration and economic development. Initial development work will take place over the next 2 years, with contracts likely being placed in the following 2-3 years.
The atmosphere is an important element of our detectors, and our Monte Carlo simulations already use data from the British Atmospheric Data Centre. Wherever the telescopes are sited, it is likely to be in an area short of detailed weather data for input to climate models. CTA's weather data are therefore likely to be useful to atmospheric modellers.
The public awareness and understanding of science will be enhanced by CTA. Our scientific research covers topics of considerable interest to the public, including black holes, supernova explosions and dark matter. We have already had considerable engagement with the public through events such as Stargazing Live and the Royal Society Summer Science Exhibition, as well as giving many talks to local interest groups (Women's Institute, astronomical societies etc.) and schools. These activities will be continued and enhanced during the next few years as CTA matures as an observatory.
Early stage researchers will gain a wide range of skills from working on CTA, in areas such as programming, electronics, modelling of complex systems, image analysis etc. In addition, they will gain the 'soft skills' which come from working with people from a wide range of cultural backgrounds in the international CTA Consortium. These skills will fit them for non-academic professions. For example, recent Ph.D. graduates who have worked in CTA have already gone on to careers in teaching and software engineering and we expect many more skilled people to move into non-academic careers over the 30 year lifetime of CTA.
Organisations
- University of Leicester, United Kingdom (Lead Research Organisation)
- Nagoya University, Japan (Collaboration)
- Argonne National Laboratory, United States (Collaboration)
- Friedrich-Alexander University (Collaboration)
- Columbia University, United States (Collaboration)
- University of Bari Aldo Moro (Collaboration)
- University of Amsterdam (Collaboration)
- University of California Los Angeles, United States (Collaboration)
- University of Liverpool, United Kingdom (Collaboration)
- Durham University, United Kingdom (Collaboration)
- Stanford University, United States (Collaboration)
- University of Siena (Collaboration)
- University of Utah, United States (Collaboration)
- University of Perugia, Italy (Collaboration)
- University of Oxford, United Kingdom (Collaboration)
- The University of Iowa, United States (Collaboration)
- Observatory of Paris (Collaboration)
- Max Planck Society (Collaboration)
- National Research Council CNR - Italy (Collaboration)
- University of Leiden, Netherlands (Collaboration)
- University of Alabama in Huntsville, United States (Collaboration)
- Aix-Marseille University, France (Collaboration)
- University of Hawaii (Collaboration)
- National Institute for Nuclear Physics, Italy (Collaboration)
- Washington University in St Louis, United States (Collaboration)
- Armagh Observatory and Planetarium (Collaboration)
- University of Adelaide, Australia (Collaboration)
Publications

Acero F
(2017)
Prospects for Cherenkov Telescope Array Observations of the Young Supernova Remnant RX J1713.7-3946
in The Astrophysical Journal

Asano A
(2018)
Evaluation of silicon photomultipliers for dual-mirror Small-Sized Telescopes of Cherenkov Telescope Array
in Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research Section A: Accelerators, Spectrometers, Detectors and Associated Equipment

De Franco A.
(2015)
The first GCT camera for the cherenkov telescope array
in Proceedings of Science

Dournaux J
(2017)
Operating performance of the gamma-ray Cherenkov telescope: An end-to-end Schwarzschild-Couder telescope prototype for the Cherenkov Telescope Array
in Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research Section A: Accelerators, Spectrometers, Detectors and Associated Equipment

Lapington J
(2017)
The GCT camera for the Cherenkov Telescope Array
in Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research Section A: Accelerators, Spectrometers, Detectors and Associated Equipment

Montaruli T.
(2015)
The small size telescope projects for the Cherenkov Telescope Array
in Proceedings of Science

Williams J
(2019)
A normally-distributed crosstalk model for silicon photomultipliers
in Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research Section A: Accelerators, Spectrometers, Detectors and Associated Equipment

Zorn J
(2018)
Characterisation and testing of CHEC-M-A camera prototype for the small-sized telescopes of the Cherenkov telescope array
in Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research Section A: Accelerators, Spectrometers, Detectors and Associated Equipment
Description | This award has maintained the UK's lead role in the development of the camera system for the CHerenkov Telescope Array, Small-Sized Telescope. During this period, the CHEC-S silicon photomultilier-based camera was developed and successfuylly tested in the lab. The CHEC-S camera was selected in a competition between three competing designs as the SST camera for the CTA observatory. |
Exploitation Route | This UK state-of-the-art camera system developed for CTA will enable UK scientists involved in astroparticle physics to be involved in CTA key science programmes and maintain the world-leading role in high energy astrophysics. The technolgies developed in the UK for the camera will provide and support other commercial opportunities in the UK in detector, electronics and engineering activities. |
Sectors | Digital/Communication/Information Technologies (including Software),Electronics,Manufacturing, including Industrial Biotechology,Other |
URL | https://www.cta-observatory.org/project/technology/sst/ |
Description | The Cherenkov Telescope Array is an international facility run by an international team of researchers that will provide unparalleled astronomical observations of astroparticles at extreme energies for analysis by research groups worldwide, bringing employment to astronomers, associated researchers, research support staff, engineers, component manufacturers and local services both at the telescope site in Chile and at the many participating institutes throughout the world. CTA has a well developed public outreach arm which will inform the general public and educators alike, bringing novel and fundamental knowledge about extreme events and processes in the universe to the public gaze. Camera and telescope technologies developed for CTA have application in many other research and commercial sectors. |
First Year Of Impact | 2016 |
Sector | Aerospace, Defence and Marine,Digital/Communication/Information Technologies (including Software),Education,Electronics,Healthcare,Manufacturing, including Industrial Biotechology,Pharmaceuticals and Medical Biotechnology,Other |
Impact Types | Cultural,Societal,Economic |
Description | CTA-UK |
Amount | £820,000 (GBP) |
Funding ID | ST/S00260X/1 |
Organisation | Science and Technologies Facilities Council (STFC) |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 06/2018 |
End | 12/2019 |
Description | Cherenkov Telescope Array Schwarzschild-Couder Telescope (SCT) Collaboration |
Organisation | Argonne National Laboratory |
Country | United States |
Sector | Public |
PI Contribution | Leicester joined the SCT collaboration in 2018 to bring expertise in front end electronics (FEE) to the SCT project. |
Collaborator Contribution | The SCT partners have pioneered the design of a Schwarzschild-Couder Telescope as one of the Medium-Sized Telescope designs for the CHerenkov Telescope Array. The SCT's two-mirror optical system is designed to better focus the light for greater imaging detail and improved detection of faint sources. |
Impact | Transfer of sensor and front-end electronics design and implementation technologies from the CTA-GCT project to the CTA-SCT collaboration. The collaboration is multi-disciplinary involving detector physics, mechanical and electronic design expertise |
Start Year | 2018 |
Description | Cherenkov Telescope Array Schwarzschild-Couder Telescope (SCT) Collaboration |
Organisation | Columbia University |
Country | United States |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Leicester joined the SCT collaboration in 2018 to bring expertise in front end electronics (FEE) to the SCT project. |
Collaborator Contribution | The SCT partners have pioneered the design of a Schwarzschild-Couder Telescope as one of the Medium-Sized Telescope designs for the CHerenkov Telescope Array. The SCT's two-mirror optical system is designed to better focus the light for greater imaging detail and improved detection of faint sources. |
Impact | Transfer of sensor and front-end electronics design and implementation technologies from the CTA-GCT project to the CTA-SCT collaboration. The collaboration is multi-disciplinary involving detector physics, mechanical and electronic design expertise |
Start Year | 2018 |
Description | Cherenkov Telescope Array Schwarzschild-Couder Telescope (SCT) Collaboration |
Organisation | Nagoya University |
Country | Japan |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Leicester joined the SCT collaboration in 2018 to bring expertise in front end electronics (FEE) to the SCT project. |
Collaborator Contribution | The SCT partners have pioneered the design of a Schwarzschild-Couder Telescope as one of the Medium-Sized Telescope designs for the CHerenkov Telescope Array. The SCT's two-mirror optical system is designed to better focus the light for greater imaging detail and improved detection of faint sources. |
Impact | Transfer of sensor and front-end electronics design and implementation technologies from the CTA-GCT project to the CTA-SCT collaboration. The collaboration is multi-disciplinary involving detector physics, mechanical and electronic design expertise |
Start Year | 2018 |
Description | Cherenkov Telescope Array Schwarzschild-Couder Telescope (SCT) Collaboration |
Organisation | National Institute for Nuclear Physics |
Department | National Institute of Nuclear Physics - Perugia |
Country | Italy |
Sector | Public |
PI Contribution | Leicester joined the SCT collaboration in 2018 to bring expertise in front end electronics (FEE) to the SCT project. |
Collaborator Contribution | The SCT partners have pioneered the design of a Schwarzschild-Couder Telescope as one of the Medium-Sized Telescope designs for the CHerenkov Telescope Array. The SCT's two-mirror optical system is designed to better focus the light for greater imaging detail and improved detection of faint sources. |
Impact | Transfer of sensor and front-end electronics design and implementation technologies from the CTA-GCT project to the CTA-SCT collaboration. The collaboration is multi-disciplinary involving detector physics, mechanical and electronic design expertise |
Start Year | 2018 |
Description | Cherenkov Telescope Array Schwarzschild-Couder Telescope (SCT) Collaboration |
Organisation | National Institute for Nuclear Physics |
Department | National Institute for Nuclear Physics - Bari |
Country | Italy |
Sector | Public |
PI Contribution | Leicester joined the SCT collaboration in 2018 to bring expertise in front end electronics (FEE) to the SCT project. |
Collaborator Contribution | The SCT partners have pioneered the design of a Schwarzschild-Couder Telescope as one of the Medium-Sized Telescope designs for the CHerenkov Telescope Array. The SCT's two-mirror optical system is designed to better focus the light for greater imaging detail and improved detection of faint sources. |
Impact | Transfer of sensor and front-end electronics design and implementation technologies from the CTA-GCT project to the CTA-SCT collaboration. The collaboration is multi-disciplinary involving detector physics, mechanical and electronic design expertise |
Start Year | 2018 |
Description | Cherenkov Telescope Array Schwarzschild-Couder Telescope (SCT) Collaboration |
Organisation | National Institute for Nuclear Physics |
Department | National Institute for Nuclear Physics - Napoli |
Country | Italy |
Sector | Public |
PI Contribution | Leicester joined the SCT collaboration in 2018 to bring expertise in front end electronics (FEE) to the SCT project. |
Collaborator Contribution | The SCT partners have pioneered the design of a Schwarzschild-Couder Telescope as one of the Medium-Sized Telescope designs for the CHerenkov Telescope Array. The SCT's two-mirror optical system is designed to better focus the light for greater imaging detail and improved detection of faint sources. |
Impact | Transfer of sensor and front-end electronics design and implementation technologies from the CTA-GCT project to the CTA-SCT collaboration. The collaboration is multi-disciplinary involving detector physics, mechanical and electronic design expertise |
Start Year | 2018 |
Description | Cherenkov Telescope Array Schwarzschild-Couder Telescope (SCT) Collaboration |
Organisation | National Institute for Nuclear Physics |
Department | National Institute for Nuclear Physics - Pisa |
Country | Italy |
Sector | Public |
PI Contribution | Leicester joined the SCT collaboration in 2018 to bring expertise in front end electronics (FEE) to the SCT project. |
Collaborator Contribution | The SCT partners have pioneered the design of a Schwarzschild-Couder Telescope as one of the Medium-Sized Telescope designs for the CHerenkov Telescope Array. The SCT's two-mirror optical system is designed to better focus the light for greater imaging detail and improved detection of faint sources. |
Impact | Transfer of sensor and front-end electronics design and implementation technologies from the CTA-GCT project to the CTA-SCT collaboration. The collaboration is multi-disciplinary involving detector physics, mechanical and electronic design expertise |
Start Year | 2018 |
Description | Cherenkov Telescope Array Schwarzschild-Couder Telescope (SCT) Collaboration |
Organisation | National Research Council |
Department | SuPerconducting and other INnovative materials and devices institute |
Country | Italy |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Leicester joined the SCT collaboration in 2018 to bring expertise in front end electronics (FEE) to the SCT project. |
Collaborator Contribution | The SCT partners have pioneered the design of a Schwarzschild-Couder Telescope as one of the Medium-Sized Telescope designs for the CHerenkov Telescope Array. The SCT's two-mirror optical system is designed to better focus the light for greater imaging detail and improved detection of faint sources. |
Impact | Transfer of sensor and front-end electronics design and implementation technologies from the CTA-GCT project to the CTA-SCT collaboration. The collaboration is multi-disciplinary involving detector physics, mechanical and electronic design expertise |
Start Year | 2018 |
Description | Cherenkov Telescope Array Schwarzschild-Couder Telescope (SCT) Collaboration |
Organisation | Polytechnic University of Bari |
Country | Italy |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Leicester joined the SCT collaboration in 2018 to bring expertise in front end electronics (FEE) to the SCT project. |
Collaborator Contribution | The SCT partners have pioneered the design of a Schwarzschild-Couder Telescope as one of the Medium-Sized Telescope designs for the CHerenkov Telescope Array. The SCT's two-mirror optical system is designed to better focus the light for greater imaging detail and improved detection of faint sources. |
Impact | Transfer of sensor and front-end electronics design and implementation technologies from the CTA-GCT project to the CTA-SCT collaboration. The collaboration is multi-disciplinary involving detector physics, mechanical and electronic design expertise |
Start Year | 2018 |
Description | Cherenkov Telescope Array Schwarzschild-Couder Telescope (SCT) Collaboration |
Organisation | Stanford University |
Department | SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory |
Country | United States |
Sector | Public |
PI Contribution | Leicester joined the SCT collaboration in 2018 to bring expertise in front end electronics (FEE) to the SCT project. |
Collaborator Contribution | The SCT partners have pioneered the design of a Schwarzschild-Couder Telescope as one of the Medium-Sized Telescope designs for the CHerenkov Telescope Array. The SCT's two-mirror optical system is designed to better focus the light for greater imaging detail and improved detection of faint sources. |
Impact | Transfer of sensor and front-end electronics design and implementation technologies from the CTA-GCT project to the CTA-SCT collaboration. The collaboration is multi-disciplinary involving detector physics, mechanical and electronic design expertise |
Start Year | 2018 |
Description | Cherenkov Telescope Array Schwarzschild-Couder Telescope (SCT) Collaboration |
Organisation | University of Alabama in Huntsville |
Country | United States |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Leicester joined the SCT collaboration in 2018 to bring expertise in front end electronics (FEE) to the SCT project. |
Collaborator Contribution | The SCT partners have pioneered the design of a Schwarzschild-Couder Telescope as one of the Medium-Sized Telescope designs for the CHerenkov Telescope Array. The SCT's two-mirror optical system is designed to better focus the light for greater imaging detail and improved detection of faint sources. |
Impact | Transfer of sensor and front-end electronics design and implementation technologies from the CTA-GCT project to the CTA-SCT collaboration. The collaboration is multi-disciplinary involving detector physics, mechanical and electronic design expertise |
Start Year | 2018 |
Description | Cherenkov Telescope Array Schwarzschild-Couder Telescope (SCT) Collaboration |
Organisation | University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) |
Department | Division of Astronomy & Astrophysics |
Country | United States |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Leicester joined the SCT collaboration in 2018 to bring expertise in front end electronics (FEE) to the SCT project. |
Collaborator Contribution | The SCT partners have pioneered the design of a Schwarzschild-Couder Telescope as one of the Medium-Sized Telescope designs for the CHerenkov Telescope Array. The SCT's two-mirror optical system is designed to better focus the light for greater imaging detail and improved detection of faint sources. |
Impact | Transfer of sensor and front-end electronics design and implementation technologies from the CTA-GCT project to the CTA-SCT collaboration. The collaboration is multi-disciplinary involving detector physics, mechanical and electronic design expertise |
Start Year | 2018 |
Description | Cherenkov Telescope Array Schwarzschild-Couder Telescope (SCT) Collaboration |
Organisation | University of Iowa |
Country | United States |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Leicester joined the SCT collaboration in 2018 to bring expertise in front end electronics (FEE) to the SCT project. |
Collaborator Contribution | The SCT partners have pioneered the design of a Schwarzschild-Couder Telescope as one of the Medium-Sized Telescope designs for the CHerenkov Telescope Array. The SCT's two-mirror optical system is designed to better focus the light for greater imaging detail and improved detection of faint sources. |
Impact | Transfer of sensor and front-end electronics design and implementation technologies from the CTA-GCT project to the CTA-SCT collaboration. The collaboration is multi-disciplinary involving detector physics, mechanical and electronic design expertise |
Start Year | 2018 |
Description | Cherenkov Telescope Array Schwarzschild-Couder Telescope (SCT) Collaboration |
Organisation | University of Perugia |
Country | Italy |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Leicester joined the SCT collaboration in 2018 to bring expertise in front end electronics (FEE) to the SCT project. |
Collaborator Contribution | The SCT partners have pioneered the design of a Schwarzschild-Couder Telescope as one of the Medium-Sized Telescope designs for the CHerenkov Telescope Array. The SCT's two-mirror optical system is designed to better focus the light for greater imaging detail and improved detection of faint sources. |
Impact | Transfer of sensor and front-end electronics design and implementation technologies from the CTA-GCT project to the CTA-SCT collaboration. The collaboration is multi-disciplinary involving detector physics, mechanical and electronic design expertise |
Start Year | 2018 |
Description | Cherenkov Telescope Array Schwarzschild-Couder Telescope (SCT) Collaboration |
Organisation | University of Siena |
Country | Italy |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Leicester joined the SCT collaboration in 2018 to bring expertise in front end electronics (FEE) to the SCT project. |
Collaborator Contribution | The SCT partners have pioneered the design of a Schwarzschild-Couder Telescope as one of the Medium-Sized Telescope designs for the CHerenkov Telescope Array. The SCT's two-mirror optical system is designed to better focus the light for greater imaging detail and improved detection of faint sources. |
Impact | Transfer of sensor and front-end electronics design and implementation technologies from the CTA-GCT project to the CTA-SCT collaboration. The collaboration is multi-disciplinary involving detector physics, mechanical and electronic design expertise |
Start Year | 2018 |
Description | Cherenkov Telescope Array Schwarzschild-Couder Telescope (SCT) Collaboration |
Organisation | University of Utah |
Country | United States |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Leicester joined the SCT collaboration in 2018 to bring expertise in front end electronics (FEE) to the SCT project. |
Collaborator Contribution | The SCT partners have pioneered the design of a Schwarzschild-Couder Telescope as one of the Medium-Sized Telescope designs for the CHerenkov Telescope Array. The SCT's two-mirror optical system is designed to better focus the light for greater imaging detail and improved detection of faint sources. |
Impact | Transfer of sensor and front-end electronics design and implementation technologies from the CTA-GCT project to the CTA-SCT collaboration. The collaboration is multi-disciplinary involving detector physics, mechanical and electronic design expertise |
Start Year | 2018 |
Description | Gamma-ray Cherenkov Telescope |
Organisation | Aix-Marseille University |
Country | France |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | UK contribution is to lead the development, manufacture and characterisation of the camera which includes the photon-counting sensor array, electronics system and the mechnical design. |
Collaborator Contribution | International collaboration to jointly develop and deply the Gamma-ray Cherenkov Telescope (GCT), a Small-Sized Telescope (SST) design for the CHerenkov Telescope Array. Contributions to the development and deployment of GCT in all areas, including design and development, including exchange of research and techcical staff, provision of required skills and expertise, training of personnel, support of component and system testing, manufacture and procurement of hardware, software and firmware, support for field trials. and eventual deployment of many (30+) GCT telescopes at final site in Chile. |
Impact | Development and manufacture of the GCT telescope (several tens+) for deployment on the Cherenkov Telescope Array facility in Chile. Multi-disciplinary: Telescope optics, detector system design, mechanical engineering, Monte Carlo modelling of physics. |
Start Year | 2012 |
Description | Gamma-ray Cherenkov Telescope |
Organisation | Armagh Observatory and Planetarium |
Department | Armagh Observatory |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | UK contribution is to lead the development, manufacture and characterisation of the camera which includes the photon-counting sensor array, electronics system and the mechnical design. |
Collaborator Contribution | International collaboration to jointly develop and deply the Gamma-ray Cherenkov Telescope (GCT), a Small-Sized Telescope (SST) design for the CHerenkov Telescope Array. Contributions to the development and deployment of GCT in all areas, including design and development, including exchange of research and techcical staff, provision of required skills and expertise, training of personnel, support of component and system testing, manufacture and procurement of hardware, software and firmware, support for field trials. and eventual deployment of many (30+) GCT telescopes at final site in Chile. |
Impact | Development and manufacture of the GCT telescope (several tens+) for deployment on the Cherenkov Telescope Array facility in Chile. Multi-disciplinary: Telescope optics, detector system design, mechanical engineering, Monte Carlo modelling of physics. |
Start Year | 2012 |
Description | Gamma-ray Cherenkov Telescope |
Organisation | Durham University |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | UK contribution is to lead the development, manufacture and characterisation of the camera which includes the photon-counting sensor array, electronics system and the mechnical design. |
Collaborator Contribution | International collaboration to jointly develop and deply the Gamma-ray Cherenkov Telescope (GCT), a Small-Sized Telescope (SST) design for the CHerenkov Telescope Array. Contributions to the development and deployment of GCT in all areas, including design and development, including exchange of research and techcical staff, provision of required skills and expertise, training of personnel, support of component and system testing, manufacture and procurement of hardware, software and firmware, support for field trials. and eventual deployment of many (30+) GCT telescopes at final site in Chile. |
Impact | Development and manufacture of the GCT telescope (several tens+) for deployment on the Cherenkov Telescope Array facility in Chile. Multi-disciplinary: Telescope optics, detector system design, mechanical engineering, Monte Carlo modelling of physics. |
Start Year | 2012 |
Description | Gamma-ray Cherenkov Telescope |
Organisation | Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nuremberg |
Department | Erlangen Centre for Astroparticle Physics |
Country | Germany |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | UK contribution is to lead the development, manufacture and characterisation of the camera which includes the photon-counting sensor array, electronics system and the mechnical design. |
Collaborator Contribution | International collaboration to jointly develop and deply the Gamma-ray Cherenkov Telescope (GCT), a Small-Sized Telescope (SST) design for the CHerenkov Telescope Array. Contributions to the development and deployment of GCT in all areas, including design and development, including exchange of research and techcical staff, provision of required skills and expertise, training of personnel, support of component and system testing, manufacture and procurement of hardware, software and firmware, support for field trials. and eventual deployment of many (30+) GCT telescopes at final site in Chile. |
Impact | Development and manufacture of the GCT telescope (several tens+) for deployment on the Cherenkov Telescope Array facility in Chile. Multi-disciplinary: Telescope optics, detector system design, mechanical engineering, Monte Carlo modelling of physics. |
Start Year | 2012 |
Description | Gamma-ray Cherenkov Telescope |
Organisation | Leiden University |
Department | Leiden Observatory |
Country | Netherlands |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | UK contribution is to lead the development, manufacture and characterisation of the camera which includes the photon-counting sensor array, electronics system and the mechnical design. |
Collaborator Contribution | International collaboration to jointly develop and deply the Gamma-ray Cherenkov Telescope (GCT), a Small-Sized Telescope (SST) design for the CHerenkov Telescope Array. Contributions to the development and deployment of GCT in all areas, including design and development, including exchange of research and techcical staff, provision of required skills and expertise, training of personnel, support of component and system testing, manufacture and procurement of hardware, software and firmware, support for field trials. and eventual deployment of many (30+) GCT telescopes at final site in Chile. |
Impact | Development and manufacture of the GCT telescope (several tens+) for deployment on the Cherenkov Telescope Array facility in Chile. Multi-disciplinary: Telescope optics, detector system design, mechanical engineering, Monte Carlo modelling of physics. |
Start Year | 2012 |
Description | Gamma-ray Cherenkov Telescope |
Organisation | Max Planck Society |
Department | Max Planck Institute for Nuclear Physics |
Country | Germany |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | UK contribution is to lead the development, manufacture and characterisation of the camera which includes the photon-counting sensor array, electronics system and the mechnical design. |
Collaborator Contribution | International collaboration to jointly develop and deply the Gamma-ray Cherenkov Telescope (GCT), a Small-Sized Telescope (SST) design for the CHerenkov Telescope Array. Contributions to the development and deployment of GCT in all areas, including design and development, including exchange of research and techcical staff, provision of required skills and expertise, training of personnel, support of component and system testing, manufacture and procurement of hardware, software and firmware, support for field trials. and eventual deployment of many (30+) GCT telescopes at final site in Chile. |
Impact | Development and manufacture of the GCT telescope (several tens+) for deployment on the Cherenkov Telescope Array facility in Chile. Multi-disciplinary: Telescope optics, detector system design, mechanical engineering, Monte Carlo modelling of physics. |
Start Year | 2012 |
Description | Gamma-ray Cherenkov Telescope |
Organisation | Nagoya University |
Department | Institute for Space-Earth Environmental Research |
Country | Japan |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | UK contribution is to lead the development, manufacture and characterisation of the camera which includes the photon-counting sensor array, electronics system and the mechnical design. |
Collaborator Contribution | International collaboration to jointly develop and deply the Gamma-ray Cherenkov Telescope (GCT), a Small-Sized Telescope (SST) design for the CHerenkov Telescope Array. Contributions to the development and deployment of GCT in all areas, including design and development, including exchange of research and techcical staff, provision of required skills and expertise, training of personnel, support of component and system testing, manufacture and procurement of hardware, software and firmware, support for field trials. and eventual deployment of many (30+) GCT telescopes at final site in Chile. |
Impact | Development and manufacture of the GCT telescope (several tens+) for deployment on the Cherenkov Telescope Array facility in Chile. Multi-disciplinary: Telescope optics, detector system design, mechanical engineering, Monte Carlo modelling of physics. |
Start Year | 2012 |
Description | Gamma-ray Cherenkov Telescope |
Organisation | Observatory of Paris |
Country | France |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | UK contribution is to lead the development, manufacture and characterisation of the camera which includes the photon-counting sensor array, electronics system and the mechnical design. |
Collaborator Contribution | International collaboration to jointly develop and deply the Gamma-ray Cherenkov Telescope (GCT), a Small-Sized Telescope (SST) design for the CHerenkov Telescope Array. Contributions to the development and deployment of GCT in all areas, including design and development, including exchange of research and techcical staff, provision of required skills and expertise, training of personnel, support of component and system testing, manufacture and procurement of hardware, software and firmware, support for field trials. and eventual deployment of many (30+) GCT telescopes at final site in Chile. |
Impact | Development and manufacture of the GCT telescope (several tens+) for deployment on the Cherenkov Telescope Array facility in Chile. Multi-disciplinary: Telescope optics, detector system design, mechanical engineering, Monte Carlo modelling of physics. |
Start Year | 2012 |
Description | Gamma-ray Cherenkov Telescope |
Organisation | University of Adelaide |
Department | School of Chemistry and Physics |
Country | Australia |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | UK contribution is to lead the development, manufacture and characterisation of the camera which includes the photon-counting sensor array, electronics system and the mechnical design. |
Collaborator Contribution | International collaboration to jointly develop and deply the Gamma-ray Cherenkov Telescope (GCT), a Small-Sized Telescope (SST) design for the CHerenkov Telescope Array. Contributions to the development and deployment of GCT in all areas, including design and development, including exchange of research and techcical staff, provision of required skills and expertise, training of personnel, support of component and system testing, manufacture and procurement of hardware, software and firmware, support for field trials. and eventual deployment of many (30+) GCT telescopes at final site in Chile. |
Impact | Development and manufacture of the GCT telescope (several tens+) for deployment on the Cherenkov Telescope Array facility in Chile. Multi-disciplinary: Telescope optics, detector system design, mechanical engineering, Monte Carlo modelling of physics. |
Start Year | 2012 |
Description | Gamma-ray Cherenkov Telescope |
Organisation | University of Amsterdam |
Department | Center of Excellence for Gravitation and Astroparticle Physics |
Country | Netherlands |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | UK contribution is to lead the development, manufacture and characterisation of the camera which includes the photon-counting sensor array, electronics system and the mechnical design. |
Collaborator Contribution | International collaboration to jointly develop and deply the Gamma-ray Cherenkov Telescope (GCT), a Small-Sized Telescope (SST) design for the CHerenkov Telescope Array. Contributions to the development and deployment of GCT in all areas, including design and development, including exchange of research and techcical staff, provision of required skills and expertise, training of personnel, support of component and system testing, manufacture and procurement of hardware, software and firmware, support for field trials. and eventual deployment of many (30+) GCT telescopes at final site in Chile. |
Impact | Development and manufacture of the GCT telescope (several tens+) for deployment on the Cherenkov Telescope Array facility in Chile. Multi-disciplinary: Telescope optics, detector system design, mechanical engineering, Monte Carlo modelling of physics. |
Start Year | 2012 |
Description | Gamma-ray Cherenkov Telescope |
Organisation | University of Hawaii |
Department | Department of Physics and Astronomy |
Country | United States |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | UK contribution is to lead the development, manufacture and characterisation of the camera which includes the photon-counting sensor array, electronics system and the mechnical design. |
Collaborator Contribution | International collaboration to jointly develop and deply the Gamma-ray Cherenkov Telescope (GCT), a Small-Sized Telescope (SST) design for the CHerenkov Telescope Array. Contributions to the development and deployment of GCT in all areas, including design and development, including exchange of research and techcical staff, provision of required skills and expertise, training of personnel, support of component and system testing, manufacture and procurement of hardware, software and firmware, support for field trials. and eventual deployment of many (30+) GCT telescopes at final site in Chile. |
Impact | Development and manufacture of the GCT telescope (several tens+) for deployment on the Cherenkov Telescope Array facility in Chile. Multi-disciplinary: Telescope optics, detector system design, mechanical engineering, Monte Carlo modelling of physics. |
Start Year | 2012 |
Description | Gamma-ray Cherenkov Telescope |
Organisation | University of Liverpool |
Department | Department of Electrical Engineering and Electronics |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | UK contribution is to lead the development, manufacture and characterisation of the camera which includes the photon-counting sensor array, electronics system and the mechnical design. |
Collaborator Contribution | International collaboration to jointly develop and deply the Gamma-ray Cherenkov Telescope (GCT), a Small-Sized Telescope (SST) design for the CHerenkov Telescope Array. Contributions to the development and deployment of GCT in all areas, including design and development, including exchange of research and techcical staff, provision of required skills and expertise, training of personnel, support of component and system testing, manufacture and procurement of hardware, software and firmware, support for field trials. and eventual deployment of many (30+) GCT telescopes at final site in Chile. |
Impact | Development and manufacture of the GCT telescope (several tens+) for deployment on the Cherenkov Telescope Array facility in Chile. Multi-disciplinary: Telescope optics, detector system design, mechanical engineering, Monte Carlo modelling of physics. |
Start Year | 2012 |
Description | Gamma-ray Cherenkov Telescope |
Organisation | University of Oxford |
Department | Division of Structural Biology |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | UK contribution is to lead the development, manufacture and characterisation of the camera which includes the photon-counting sensor array, electronics system and the mechnical design. |
Collaborator Contribution | International collaboration to jointly develop and deply the Gamma-ray Cherenkov Telescope (GCT), a Small-Sized Telescope (SST) design for the CHerenkov Telescope Array. Contributions to the development and deployment of GCT in all areas, including design and development, including exchange of research and techcical staff, provision of required skills and expertise, training of personnel, support of component and system testing, manufacture and procurement of hardware, software and firmware, support for field trials. and eventual deployment of many (30+) GCT telescopes at final site in Chile. |
Impact | Development and manufacture of the GCT telescope (several tens+) for deployment on the Cherenkov Telescope Array facility in Chile. Multi-disciplinary: Telescope optics, detector system design, mechanical engineering, Monte Carlo modelling of physics. |
Start Year | 2012 |
Description | Gamma-ray Cherenkov Telescope |
Organisation | Washington University in St Louis |
Country | United States |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | UK contribution is to lead the development, manufacture and characterisation of the camera which includes the photon-counting sensor array, electronics system and the mechnical design. |
Collaborator Contribution | International collaboration to jointly develop and deply the Gamma-ray Cherenkov Telescope (GCT), a Small-Sized Telescope (SST) design for the CHerenkov Telescope Array. Contributions to the development and deployment of GCT in all areas, including design and development, including exchange of research and techcical staff, provision of required skills and expertise, training of personnel, support of component and system testing, manufacture and procurement of hardware, software and firmware, support for field trials. and eventual deployment of many (30+) GCT telescopes at final site in Chile. |
Impact | Development and manufacture of the GCT telescope (several tens+) for deployment on the Cherenkov Telescope Array facility in Chile. Multi-disciplinary: Telescope optics, detector system design, mechanical engineering, Monte Carlo modelling of physics. |
Start Year | 2012 |
Title | GCT photon-counting camera for CTA |
Description | A photon-counting camera specifically designed for the Small-Sized Telescope array of the Cherenkov Telescope Array (CTA). CTA is a 300M Euro international astroparticle astronomy facility undergoing construction at two sites in La Palma and Chile. There will be 35+ such cameras deployed on CTA, within the next 5 years. Each camera utilises an array of 2048 silicon photomultipliers to detect Cherenov light showers of ~10 nanseconds in width which are produced by a very high energy astroparticle (up to 300 TeV) from a cosmic event of extreme energy. |
Type Of Technology | Detection Devices |
Year Produced | 2015 |
Impact | The first GCT camera prototype underwent preliminary laboratory tests last year. In November 2015, the camera was installed on a prototype GCT telescope (SST-GATE) in Paris and was used to successfully record the first Cherenkov light of any CTA prototype, and the first Cherenkov light seen with a a new design of telescope with dual-mirror optical system, specifically developed for CTA. |
URL | https://www.cta-observatory.org/cta-prototype-telescope-achieves-first-light-3/ |
Title | TARGET electronics module |
Description | A major revision of the TARGET electronics module designed for application to photon-counting cameras deployed on the Cherenkov Telescope Array (CTA). CTA is a 300M Euro international facility for astroparticle astronomy. The TARGET module is a 64 channel 12-bit, 1 GSample per second digitizer with trigger functionality. |
Type Of Technology | Systems, Materials & Instrumental Engineering |
Year Produced | 2017 |
Impact | The TARGET electronics module is currently planned for use as core components of the electronics systems of the GCT and possibly SCT cameras to be deployed on CTA. The cameras require 32-177 TARGET modules depending upon type. There are likely to be 35+ such cameras eventually deployed on CTA by its completion in early 2020s. |
Description | CTA Talk - Universidad Autonoma Metropolitana Iztapalapa |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Undergraduate students |
Results and Impact | Physics department seminar at UAM-I Mexico City, March 2018. I introduced CTA, and presented the broad range of research being undertaken at Leicester. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
Description | CTA-UK Monte Carlo simulation and analysis workshop |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | A workshop bringing UK experts together to develop Monte Carlo modelling techniques for simulation of telescope and detector designs for Cherenkov Telescope Array, and use these in the analyses of simulated data challenge activities released by the international CTA consortium. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
Description | CTA-UK simulation/analysis workshop |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | A workshop bringing experts together on simulation and analysis of telecsope and detector designs for Cherenkov Telescope Array. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
Description | IoP Particle Detectors and Instrumentation UK Meeting, September 2017 |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | The aim of the meeting was to build connections between particle physicists researching into novel silicon detectors for future collider experiments and other applications such as medical physics or astronomy, and the wider UK sensors and instrumentation community, with the goal of identifying areas where industry can assist the high energy physics world, and possible further applications of the latest innovations. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
URL | https://indico.cern.ch/event/654712/ |
Description | Overview talk for Cherenkov Telescope Array |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Regional |
Primary Audience | Schools |
Results and Impact | Steve Leech - Invited talk about Cherenkov Telescope Array at Beauchamp College, Café Scientifique seminar programme |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |