UK Participation in the Preparatory Phase of the Cherenkov Telescope Array 2012-2015
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Liverpool
Department Name: Physics
Abstract
Abstracts are not currently available in GtR for all funded research. This is normally because the abstract was not required at the time of proposal submission, but may be because it included sensitive information such as personal details.
Planned Impact
Particle astrophysics, and specifically ground-based gamma-ray astronomy, necessarily requires engagement with industry; the nature of our work at the boundaries of particle physics and astronomy is such that technical innovation is vital. We have a track record of significant and successful engagement with industry. In addition, we have a strong commitment to outreach to schools and the general public, and have made an important contribution to outreach for CTA as a whole. Knowledge exchange and outreach are thus fundamental to our activities.
Amplifier Applications: A requirement for the prototype SST camera is the use of high-speed, low-noise, low-power, cheap amplifiers, which will be designed and built at the University of Leicester. These have potential uses in neutron detection, the aerospace industry, or for battery-powered hand-held devices.
Rapidly-Pulsed LEDs: Rapidly-pulsed LEDs are already used for applications such as fluorescence spectroscopy. These are expensive systems, ~£7k each - and there is likely a market for slightly slower but much cheaper device that will be developed as part of this proposal.
Construction: CTA will be a ~200 MEuro project, with substantial industrial involvement; there will be many opportunities for industrial contracts for the construction of both major components (inc. telescope structures) and smaller components.
We will use the excellent knowledge exchange infrastructure existing at the institutions involved to help us realise this programme. Opportunities for our public outreach programme include:
Outreach Website: The present CTA website www.cta-observatory.org was designed and almost entirely written by the CTA-UK team. This is designed to advertise CTA primarily to other scientists and scientifically literate members of the public. A CTA website for educators and the general public is presently being designed by Nolan at Durham University, and will be linked strongly also to the CTA-UK website, which will contain further, UK-specific resources for schools.
CTA Leaflet: We will produce a physical leaflet that can be handed to interested members of the public at talks, exhibitions etc. and hung on classroom walls as a poster. Nolan is drafting this with a view to production in early 2012.
Filming SST Construction: Both the prototype CTA telescope and future array construction need to be filmed for the production of documentary videos, films and webcasts about CTA. A Newcastle-based production company, Newton, has agreed to do some initial filming of the construction of the prototype SST in Paris without charge. Further, the filming of the prototype construction with Newton is proposed.
Planetarium Resources: The applicants are exploring with the National Space Centre (NSC) the possibility of creating a planetarium show based around CTA science.
Cosmic Rays in Schools: Greenshaw and Chadwick are part of the CORUS project to put cosmic ray detectors in ~30 UK schools. One of the project's aims is to produce teaching resources to go with the detectors; we will link the resources to CTA and provide extension material.
Exhibitions: 2012 is the 100th anniversary of the discovery of cosmic rays by Hess. We will apply to the Royal Society for an exhibit on cosmic rays and particle acceleration in the Universe for 2012. We will also ensure that we have a presence in the NSC exhibition.
The CTA-UK team has a great deal of outreach experience, and the outreach programme will be undertaken by researchers at all levels. There is also expertise available at CTA-UK institutions, including from outreach officers. For our early stage researchers, participation in outreach will be part of their training, and they will be encouraged to take part in media skills training. The UK members of CTA are already engaged with industry and the public; their collective experience will be used to aim for the highest possible economic and social impact for CTA in the UK.
Amplifier Applications: A requirement for the prototype SST camera is the use of high-speed, low-noise, low-power, cheap amplifiers, which will be designed and built at the University of Leicester. These have potential uses in neutron detection, the aerospace industry, or for battery-powered hand-held devices.
Rapidly-Pulsed LEDs: Rapidly-pulsed LEDs are already used for applications such as fluorescence spectroscopy. These are expensive systems, ~£7k each - and there is likely a market for slightly slower but much cheaper device that will be developed as part of this proposal.
Construction: CTA will be a ~200 MEuro project, with substantial industrial involvement; there will be many opportunities for industrial contracts for the construction of both major components (inc. telescope structures) and smaller components.
We will use the excellent knowledge exchange infrastructure existing at the institutions involved to help us realise this programme. Opportunities for our public outreach programme include:
Outreach Website: The present CTA website www.cta-observatory.org was designed and almost entirely written by the CTA-UK team. This is designed to advertise CTA primarily to other scientists and scientifically literate members of the public. A CTA website for educators and the general public is presently being designed by Nolan at Durham University, and will be linked strongly also to the CTA-UK website, which will contain further, UK-specific resources for schools.
CTA Leaflet: We will produce a physical leaflet that can be handed to interested members of the public at talks, exhibitions etc. and hung on classroom walls as a poster. Nolan is drafting this with a view to production in early 2012.
Filming SST Construction: Both the prototype CTA telescope and future array construction need to be filmed for the production of documentary videos, films and webcasts about CTA. A Newcastle-based production company, Newton, has agreed to do some initial filming of the construction of the prototype SST in Paris without charge. Further, the filming of the prototype construction with Newton is proposed.
Planetarium Resources: The applicants are exploring with the National Space Centre (NSC) the possibility of creating a planetarium show based around CTA science.
Cosmic Rays in Schools: Greenshaw and Chadwick are part of the CORUS project to put cosmic ray detectors in ~30 UK schools. One of the project's aims is to produce teaching resources to go with the detectors; we will link the resources to CTA and provide extension material.
Exhibitions: 2012 is the 100th anniversary of the discovery of cosmic rays by Hess. We will apply to the Royal Society for an exhibit on cosmic rays and particle acceleration in the Universe for 2012. We will also ensure that we have a presence in the NSC exhibition.
The CTA-UK team has a great deal of outreach experience, and the outreach programme will be undertaken by researchers at all levels. There is also expertise available at CTA-UK institutions, including from outreach officers. For our early stage researchers, participation in outreach will be part of their training, and they will be encouraged to take part in media skills training. The UK members of CTA are already engaged with industry and the public; their collective experience will be used to aim for the highest possible economic and social impact for CTA in the UK.
Organisations
- University of Liverpool (Lead Research Organisation)
- Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nuremberg (Collaboration)
- UNIVERSITY OF LEICESTER (Collaboration)
- Nagoya University (Collaboration)
- Aix-Marseille University (Collaboration)
- National Center for Scientific Research (Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique CNRS) (Collaboration)
- UNIVERSITY OF OXFORD (Collaboration)
- Max Planck Society (Collaboration)
- DURHAM UNIVERSITY (Collaboration)
- GLYNDWR UNIVERSITY (Collaboration)
- University of Amsterdam (Collaboration)
- University of Adelaide (Collaboration)
- Observatory of Paris (Collaboration)
People |
ORCID iD |
Timothy Greenshaw (Principal Investigator) |
Publications
Acharyya A
(2019)
Monte Carlo studies for the optimisation of the Cherenkov Telescope Array layout
in Astroparticle Physics
Andreev V
(2016)
Search for QCD instanton-induced processes at HERA in the high- $$\pmb {Q^2}$$ Q 2 domain H1 Collaboration
in The European Physical Journal C
De Franco A
(2016)
The first GCT camera for the Cherenkov Telescope Array.
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
(2016)
The small size telescope projects for the Cherenkov Telescope Array
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 | Tested silicon photomultipliers (SiPMs) and multi-anode photomultipliers (MAPMs), sensitive light sensors. Developed fast pre-amplifiers and shapers which process the signals from SiPMs and MAPMs. Designed and buillt a high speed Compact High-energy Camera based on MAPMs (CHEC-M) for the Gamma-ray Cherenkov Telescope (GCT). Designed and started construction of CHEC-S, a camera based on SiPMs. |
Exploitation Route | Further development of CHEC ongong for the GCT, for the ASTRI telescope (a second dual-mirror telescope for CTA) and for the Cherenkov Telescope Array (CTA). |
Sectors | Aerospace Defence and Marine Electronics |
Description | UK Participation in the CTA pre-production phase |
Amount | £400,000 (GBP) |
Organisation | Science and Technologies Facilities Council (STFC) |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 06/2015 |
End | 06/2018 |
Description | Cherenkov Telescope Array (CTA) |
Organisation | Durham University |
Department | Department of Physics |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Proposal of Dual Mirror design for Small Size Telescopes (SSTs) for CTA. First mechanical and optical designs of Dual Mirror SSTs. Leadership of SST project within CTA. Contributions to physics studies for CTA. Leadership for five years and then continuing contributions to overall array simulation and design. Leadership of outreach for CTA. Collaboration Board and Project Committee membership. |
Collaborator Contribution | Remainder of project with nearly 1500 physicists from 224 institutes in 33 coutries (as of March 2016), including: Design of Large, Medium and other Small Size Telescopes (LSTs, MSTs and SSTs, respectively). Studies of physics that CTA will carry out. Data processing for CTA. Site search and negotions, design of array infrastructure. Develoment of legal framework for CTA Observatory. |
Impact | Design of telescope sstructure, camera, and mirrors. Astrophsyics outreach in the UK and internationally. PhD students. |
Description | Cherenkov Telescope Array (CTA) |
Organisation | Observatory of Paris |
Country | France |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Proposal of Dual Mirror design for Small Size Telescopes (SSTs) for CTA. First mechanical and optical designs of Dual Mirror SSTs. Leadership of SST project within CTA. Contributions to physics studies for CTA. Leadership for five years and then continuing contributions to overall array simulation and design. Leadership of outreach for CTA. Collaboration Board and Project Committee membership. |
Collaborator Contribution | Remainder of project with nearly 1500 physicists from 224 institutes in 33 coutries (as of March 2016), including: Design of Large, Medium and other Small Size Telescopes (LSTs, MSTs and SSTs, respectively). Studies of physics that CTA will carry out. Data processing for CTA. Site search and negotions, design of array infrastructure. Develoment of legal framework for CTA Observatory. |
Impact | Design of telescope sstructure, camera, and mirrors. Astrophsyics outreach in the UK and internationally. PhD students. |
Description | Cherenkov Telescope Array (CTA) |
Organisation | University of Leicester |
Department | Department of Physics & Astronomy |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Proposal of Dual Mirror design for Small Size Telescopes (SSTs) for CTA. First mechanical and optical designs of Dual Mirror SSTs. Leadership of SST project within CTA. Contributions to physics studies for CTA. Leadership for five years and then continuing contributions to overall array simulation and design. Leadership of outreach for CTA. Collaboration Board and Project Committee membership. |
Collaborator Contribution | Remainder of project with nearly 1500 physicists from 224 institutes in 33 coutries (as of March 2016), including: Design of Large, Medium and other Small Size Telescopes (LSTs, MSTs and SSTs, respectively). Studies of physics that CTA will carry out. Data processing for CTA. Site search and negotions, design of array infrastructure. Develoment of legal framework for CTA Observatory. |
Impact | Design of telescope sstructure, camera, and mirrors. Astrophsyics outreach in the UK and internationally. PhD students. |
Description | Cherenkov Telescope Array (CTA) |
Organisation | University of Oxford |
Department | Department of Physics |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Proposal of Dual Mirror design for Small Size Telescopes (SSTs) for CTA. First mechanical and optical designs of Dual Mirror SSTs. Leadership of SST project within CTA. Contributions to physics studies for CTA. Leadership for five years and then continuing contributions to overall array simulation and design. Leadership of outreach for CTA. Collaboration Board and Project Committee membership. |
Collaborator Contribution | Remainder of project with nearly 1500 physicists from 224 institutes in 33 coutries (as of March 2016), including: Design of Large, Medium and other Small Size Telescopes (LSTs, MSTs and SSTs, respectively). Studies of physics that CTA will carry out. Data processing for CTA. Site search and negotions, design of array infrastructure. Develoment of legal framework for CTA Observatory. |
Impact | Design of telescope sstructure, camera, and mirrors. Astrophsyics outreach in the UK and internationally. PhD students. |
Description | Compact High Energy Camera |
Organisation | Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nuremberg |
Country | Germany |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Lead design and construction of camera for GCT telescope. |
Collaborator Contribution | Electronics testing. Software development. |
Impact | Design of camera. Prototype camera. |
Start Year | 2015 |
Description | Compact High Energy Camera |
Organisation | Max Planck Society |
Department | Max Planck Institute for Nuclear Physics |
Country | Germany |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Lead design and construction of camera for GCT telescope. |
Collaborator Contribution | Electronics testing. Software development. |
Impact | Design of camera. Prototype camera. |
Start Year | 2015 |
Description | Compact High Energy Camera |
Organisation | Nagoya University |
Country | Japan |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Lead design and construction of camera for GCT telescope. |
Collaborator Contribution | Electronics testing. Software development. |
Impact | Design of camera. Prototype camera. |
Start Year | 2015 |
Description | Compact High Energy Camera |
Organisation | University of Adelaide |
Country | Australia |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Lead design and construction of camera for GCT telescope. |
Collaborator Contribution | Electronics testing. Software development. |
Impact | Design of camera. Prototype camera. |
Start Year | 2015 |
Description | Compact High Energy Camera |
Organisation | University of Amsterdam |
Country | Netherlands |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Lead design and construction of camera for GCT telescope. |
Collaborator Contribution | Electronics testing. Software development. |
Impact | Design of camera. Prototype camera. |
Start Year | 2015 |
Description | Gamma-ray Cherenkov Telescope |
Organisation | Aix-Marseille University |
Country | France |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Design of the first mechanical structure of the GCT. Optical design of the GCT. Design and construction of multi-anode based compact high energy camera (CHEC) for the GCT, CHEC-M. Lab testing of CHEC-M. Installation of CHAC-M on the prototype telescope. Detection of air showers with the GCT and its camera. Testing of silicon photomultipliers (SiPMs) for the SiPM based GCT camera, CHEC-S. Design and test of the CHEC-S frant-end electronics. Contributions to simulation of the GCT and studies of physics using the GCT. |
Collaborator Contribution | Design of the prototype telescope structure. Construction of telescope on the Meudon site of the Paris Observatory. Construction of the GCT mirrors. Monte Carlo simulations for the GCT. Back end electronics for CHEC. |
Impact | Prototype telescope and camera for CTA. Publications. Outreach in Ile de France area. |
Start Year | 2014 |
Description | Gamma-ray Cherenkov Telescope |
Organisation | Durham University |
Department | Department of Physics |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Design of the first mechanical structure of the GCT. Optical design of the GCT. Design and construction of multi-anode based compact high energy camera (CHEC) for the GCT, CHEC-M. Lab testing of CHEC-M. Installation of CHAC-M on the prototype telescope. Detection of air showers with the GCT and its camera. Testing of silicon photomultipliers (SiPMs) for the SiPM based GCT camera, CHEC-S. Design and test of the CHEC-S frant-end electronics. Contributions to simulation of the GCT and studies of physics using the GCT. |
Collaborator Contribution | Design of the prototype telescope structure. Construction of telescope on the Meudon site of the Paris Observatory. Construction of the GCT mirrors. Monte Carlo simulations for the GCT. Back end electronics for CHEC. |
Impact | Prototype telescope and camera for CTA. Publications. Outreach in Ile de France area. |
Start Year | 2014 |
Description | Gamma-ray Cherenkov Telescope |
Organisation | Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nuremberg |
Country | Germany |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Design of the first mechanical structure of the GCT. Optical design of the GCT. Design and construction of multi-anode based compact high energy camera (CHEC) for the GCT, CHEC-M. Lab testing of CHEC-M. Installation of CHAC-M on the prototype telescope. Detection of air showers with the GCT and its camera. Testing of silicon photomultipliers (SiPMs) for the SiPM based GCT camera, CHEC-S. Design and test of the CHEC-S frant-end electronics. Contributions to simulation of the GCT and studies of physics using the GCT. |
Collaborator Contribution | Design of the prototype telescope structure. Construction of telescope on the Meudon site of the Paris Observatory. Construction of the GCT mirrors. Monte Carlo simulations for the GCT. Back end electronics for CHEC. |
Impact | Prototype telescope and camera for CTA. Publications. Outreach in Ile de France area. |
Start Year | 2014 |
Description | Gamma-ray Cherenkov Telescope |
Organisation | Max Planck Society |
Department | Max Planck Institute for Nuclear Physics |
Country | Germany |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Design of the first mechanical structure of the GCT. Optical design of the GCT. Design and construction of multi-anode based compact high energy camera (CHEC) for the GCT, CHEC-M. Lab testing of CHEC-M. Installation of CHAC-M on the prototype telescope. Detection of air showers with the GCT and its camera. Testing of silicon photomultipliers (SiPMs) for the SiPM based GCT camera, CHEC-S. Design and test of the CHEC-S frant-end electronics. Contributions to simulation of the GCT and studies of physics using the GCT. |
Collaborator Contribution | Design of the prototype telescope structure. Construction of telescope on the Meudon site of the Paris Observatory. Construction of the GCT mirrors. Monte Carlo simulations for the GCT. Back end electronics for CHEC. |
Impact | Prototype telescope and camera for CTA. Publications. Outreach in Ile de France area. |
Start Year | 2014 |
Description | Gamma-ray Cherenkov Telescope |
Organisation | Nagoya University |
Country | Japan |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Design of the first mechanical structure of the GCT. Optical design of the GCT. Design and construction of multi-anode based compact high energy camera (CHEC) for the GCT, CHEC-M. Lab testing of CHEC-M. Installation of CHAC-M on the prototype telescope. Detection of air showers with the GCT and its camera. Testing of silicon photomultipliers (SiPMs) for the SiPM based GCT camera, CHEC-S. Design and test of the CHEC-S frant-end electronics. Contributions to simulation of the GCT and studies of physics using the GCT. |
Collaborator Contribution | Design of the prototype telescope structure. Construction of telescope on the Meudon site of the Paris Observatory. Construction of the GCT mirrors. Monte Carlo simulations for the GCT. Back end electronics for CHEC. |
Impact | Prototype telescope and camera for CTA. Publications. Outreach in Ile de France area. |
Start Year | 2014 |
Description | Gamma-ray Cherenkov Telescope |
Organisation | National Center for Scientific Research (Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique CNRS) |
Department | IN2P3 CNRS |
Country | France |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Design of the first mechanical structure of the GCT. Optical design of the GCT. Design and construction of multi-anode based compact high energy camera (CHEC) for the GCT, CHEC-M. Lab testing of CHEC-M. Installation of CHAC-M on the prototype telescope. Detection of air showers with the GCT and its camera. Testing of silicon photomultipliers (SiPMs) for the SiPM based GCT camera, CHEC-S. Design and test of the CHEC-S frant-end electronics. Contributions to simulation of the GCT and studies of physics using the GCT. |
Collaborator Contribution | Design of the prototype telescope structure. Construction of telescope on the Meudon site of the Paris Observatory. Construction of the GCT mirrors. Monte Carlo simulations for the GCT. Back end electronics for CHEC. |
Impact | Prototype telescope and camera for CTA. Publications. Outreach in Ile de France area. |
Start Year | 2014 |
Description | Gamma-ray Cherenkov Telescope |
Organisation | Observatory of Paris |
Country | France |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Design of the first mechanical structure of the GCT. Optical design of the GCT. Design and construction of multi-anode based compact high energy camera (CHEC) for the GCT, CHEC-M. Lab testing of CHEC-M. Installation of CHAC-M on the prototype telescope. Detection of air showers with the GCT and its camera. Testing of silicon photomultipliers (SiPMs) for the SiPM based GCT camera, CHEC-S. Design and test of the CHEC-S frant-end electronics. Contributions to simulation of the GCT and studies of physics using the GCT. |
Collaborator Contribution | Design of the prototype telescope structure. Construction of telescope on the Meudon site of the Paris Observatory. Construction of the GCT mirrors. Monte Carlo simulations for the GCT. Back end electronics for CHEC. |
Impact | Prototype telescope and camera for CTA. Publications. Outreach in Ile de France area. |
Start Year | 2014 |
Description | Gamma-ray Cherenkov Telescope |
Organisation | University of Adelaide |
Country | Australia |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Design of the first mechanical structure of the GCT. Optical design of the GCT. Design and construction of multi-anode based compact high energy camera (CHEC) for the GCT, CHEC-M. Lab testing of CHEC-M. Installation of CHAC-M on the prototype telescope. Detection of air showers with the GCT and its camera. Testing of silicon photomultipliers (SiPMs) for the SiPM based GCT camera, CHEC-S. Design and test of the CHEC-S frant-end electronics. Contributions to simulation of the GCT and studies of physics using the GCT. |
Collaborator Contribution | Design of the prototype telescope structure. Construction of telescope on the Meudon site of the Paris Observatory. Construction of the GCT mirrors. Monte Carlo simulations for the GCT. Back end electronics for CHEC. |
Impact | Prototype telescope and camera for CTA. Publications. Outreach in Ile de France area. |
Start Year | 2014 |
Description | Gamma-ray Cherenkov Telescope |
Organisation | University of Amsterdam |
Country | Netherlands |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Design of the first mechanical structure of the GCT. Optical design of the GCT. Design and construction of multi-anode based compact high energy camera (CHEC) for the GCT, CHEC-M. Lab testing of CHEC-M. Installation of CHAC-M on the prototype telescope. Detection of air showers with the GCT and its camera. Testing of silicon photomultipliers (SiPMs) for the SiPM based GCT camera, CHEC-S. Design and test of the CHEC-S frant-end electronics. Contributions to simulation of the GCT and studies of physics using the GCT. |
Collaborator Contribution | Design of the prototype telescope structure. Construction of telescope on the Meudon site of the Paris Observatory. Construction of the GCT mirrors. Monte Carlo simulations for the GCT. Back end electronics for CHEC. |
Impact | Prototype telescope and camera for CTA. Publications. Outreach in Ile de France area. |
Start Year | 2014 |
Description | Gamma-ray Cherenkov Telescope |
Organisation | University of Leicester |
Department | Department of Physics & Astronomy |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Design of the first mechanical structure of the GCT. Optical design of the GCT. Design and construction of multi-anode based compact high energy camera (CHEC) for the GCT, CHEC-M. Lab testing of CHEC-M. Installation of CHAC-M on the prototype telescope. Detection of air showers with the GCT and its camera. Testing of silicon photomultipliers (SiPMs) for the SiPM based GCT camera, CHEC-S. Design and test of the CHEC-S frant-end electronics. Contributions to simulation of the GCT and studies of physics using the GCT. |
Collaborator Contribution | Design of the prototype telescope structure. Construction of telescope on the Meudon site of the Paris Observatory. Construction of the GCT mirrors. Monte Carlo simulations for the GCT. Back end electronics for CHEC. |
Impact | Prototype telescope and camera for CTA. Publications. Outreach in Ile de France area. |
Start Year | 2014 |
Description | Gamma-ray Cherenkov Telescope |
Organisation | University of Oxford |
Department | Department of Physics |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Design of the first mechanical structure of the GCT. Optical design of the GCT. Design and construction of multi-anode based compact high energy camera (CHEC) for the GCT, CHEC-M. Lab testing of CHEC-M. Installation of CHAC-M on the prototype telescope. Detection of air showers with the GCT and its camera. Testing of silicon photomultipliers (SiPMs) for the SiPM based GCT camera, CHEC-S. Design and test of the CHEC-S frant-end electronics. Contributions to simulation of the GCT and studies of physics using the GCT. |
Collaborator Contribution | Design of the prototype telescope structure. Construction of telescope on the Meudon site of the Paris Observatory. Construction of the GCT mirrors. Monte Carlo simulations for the GCT. Back end electronics for CHEC. |
Impact | Prototype telescope and camera for CTA. Publications. Outreach in Ile de France area. |
Start Year | 2014 |
Description | Mirrors for CTA |
Organisation | Glyndwr University |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Specification of mirrors |
Collaborator Contribution | Mirror construction process, test mirrors. |
Impact | Test mirrors for study of production process |
Start Year | 2015 |
Description | Appearance on "In Our Time", BBC Radio 4 |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
Part Of Official Scheme? | Yes |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | Led to other invitations to describe science of CTA |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2013 |
URL | http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b01sdnkg |
Description | STFC Innovations Club meeting on CTA |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | Yes |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | Led to contacts with two groups that are being followed up as possible industrial providers for CTA. Contacts with industry |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2014 |
Description | Talk at Daresbury Physics Masterclass |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Regional |
Primary Audience | Schools |
Results and Impact | Lively discussion after talk. Led to visits to Liverpool from potential students |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2014 |
Description | Talk to Wilmslow Guild on CTA and cosmis rays |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Regional |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | Talk sparked lively discussion. Led to further request for talk. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2013 |
Description | Talk to sixth form, Priestley College, Warrington |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Local |
Primary Audience | Schools |
Results and Impact | Talk led to visits to Liverpool University. Interest in studying physics/astrophysics expressed by some students. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2014 |