UK participation in the pre-production phase of CTA extension 2021

Lead Research Organisation: University of Leicester
Department Name: Space Research Centre

Abstract

The Universe is full of particles with energies so great 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 over 1640 scientists and engineers from 31 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 roughly 200 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. Both arrays will include LSTs and MSTs, and the SSTs will be situated only in the souths as these are designed to investigate the highest energy phenomena, which are visible mainly
in the southern sky. We expect construction of the first telescopes on the CTA southern site to begin in 2022.

There are currently 12 UK universities and Laboratories involved in CTA. The four UK groups developing the hardware are concentrating their efforts on the construction of the SSTs for which we previously developed the Compact High Energy Camera (CHEC). CHEC was selected along with the Italian ASTRI telescope structure, from the three competing SST designs, as the basis for the final SST design. During the 2021 funding period we will use the lessons learned from CHEC to design the final production-ready cameras for SST. We will also prepare AIV facilities in preparation for production. We will expand outreach activities to include a planetarium show and UK science meeting and enhance project management and product assurance in readiness for production.

Publications

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Description UK participation in the pre-production phase of CTA extension 2022
Amount £151,246 (GBP)
Funding ID ST/X001741/1 
Organisation Science and Technologies Facilities Council (STFC) 
Sector Public
Country United Kingdom
Start 03/2022 
End 09/2023
 
Description CTA Small Sized telescope Programme 
Organisation Deutsches Electronen-Synchrotron (DESY)
Country Germany 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution The University of Leicester has played a lead role in the development of the CHEC camera, now selected as the SST camera. Leicester will host the UK camera production facility and be responsible for assembly, test, and commissioning of up to half the SST cameras being supplied to the CTA observatory.
Collaborator Contribution The SST Programme team will supply and commission the telescope structures and cameras for the CTA Small SIzed Telescope array of up to 70 telescopes, to be based at the CTA southern site in Chile.
Impact This collaboration is still in its early days. Camera production will begin in late 2021.
Start Year 2019
 
Description CTA Small Sized telescope Programme 
Organisation Durham University
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution The University of Leicester has played a lead role in the development of the CHEC camera, now selected as the SST camera. Leicester will host the UK camera production facility and be responsible for assembly, test, and commissioning of up to half the SST cameras being supplied to the CTA observatory.
Collaborator Contribution The SST Programme team will supply and commission the telescope structures and cameras for the CTA Small SIzed Telescope array of up to 70 telescopes, to be based at the CTA southern site in Chile.
Impact This collaboration is still in its early days. Camera production will begin in late 2021.
Start Year 2019
 
Description CTA Small Sized telescope Programme 
Organisation Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nuremberg
Country Germany 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution The University of Leicester has played a lead role in the development of the CHEC camera, now selected as the SST camera. Leicester will host the UK camera production facility and be responsible for assembly, test, and commissioning of up to half the SST cameras being supplied to the CTA observatory.
Collaborator Contribution The SST Programme team will supply and commission the telescope structures and cameras for the CTA Small SIzed Telescope array of up to 70 telescopes, to be based at the CTA southern site in Chile.
Impact This collaboration is still in its early days. Camera production will begin in late 2021.
Start Year 2019
 
Description CTA Small Sized telescope Programme 
Organisation Max Planck Society
Department Max Planck Institute for Nuclear Physics
Country Germany 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution The University of Leicester has played a lead role in the development of the CHEC camera, now selected as the SST camera. Leicester will host the UK camera production facility and be responsible for assembly, test, and commissioning of up to half the SST cameras being supplied to the CTA observatory.
Collaborator Contribution The SST Programme team will supply and commission the telescope structures and cameras for the CTA Small SIzed Telescope array of up to 70 telescopes, to be based at the CTA southern site in Chile.
Impact This collaboration is still in its early days. Camera production will begin in late 2021.
Start Year 2019
 
Description CTA Small Sized telescope Programme 
Organisation Nagoya University
Country Japan 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution The University of Leicester has played a lead role in the development of the CHEC camera, now selected as the SST camera. Leicester will host the UK camera production facility and be responsible for assembly, test, and commissioning of up to half the SST cameras being supplied to the CTA observatory.
Collaborator Contribution The SST Programme team will supply and commission the telescope structures and cameras for the CTA Small SIzed Telescope array of up to 70 telescopes, to be based at the CTA southern site in Chile.
Impact This collaboration is still in its early days. Camera production will begin in late 2021.
Start Year 2019
 
Description CTA Small Sized telescope Programme 
Organisation National Institute for Astrophysics
Department Brera Astronomical Observatory
Country Italy 
Sector Public 
PI Contribution The University of Leicester has played a lead role in the development of the CHEC camera, now selected as the SST camera. Leicester will host the UK camera production facility and be responsible for assembly, test, and commissioning of up to half the SST cameras being supplied to the CTA observatory.
Collaborator Contribution The SST Programme team will supply and commission the telescope structures and cameras for the CTA Small SIzed Telescope array of up to 70 telescopes, to be based at the CTA southern site in Chile.
Impact This collaboration is still in its early days. Camera production will begin in late 2021.
Start Year 2019
 
Description CTA Small Sized telescope Programme 
Organisation National Institute for Astrophysics
Department Catania Observatory
Country Italy 
Sector Private 
PI Contribution The University of Leicester has played a lead role in the development of the CHEC camera, now selected as the SST camera. Leicester will host the UK camera production facility and be responsible for assembly, test, and commissioning of up to half the SST cameras being supplied to the CTA observatory.
Collaborator Contribution The SST Programme team will supply and commission the telescope structures and cameras for the CTA Small SIzed Telescope array of up to 70 telescopes, to be based at the CTA southern site in Chile.
Impact This collaboration is still in its early days. Camera production will begin in late 2021.
Start Year 2019
 
Description CTA Small Sized telescope Programme 
Organisation National Institute for Astrophysics
Country Italy 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution The University of Leicester has played a lead role in the development of the CHEC camera, now selected as the SST camera. Leicester will host the UK camera production facility and be responsible for assembly, test, and commissioning of up to half the SST cameras being supplied to the CTA observatory.
Collaborator Contribution The SST Programme team will supply and commission the telescope structures and cameras for the CTA Small SIzed Telescope array of up to 70 telescopes, to be based at the CTA southern site in Chile.
Impact This collaboration is still in its early days. Camera production will begin in late 2021.
Start Year 2019
 
Description CTA Small Sized telescope Programme 
Organisation National Institute for Nuclear Physics
Country Italy 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution The University of Leicester has played a lead role in the development of the CHEC camera, now selected as the SST camera. Leicester will host the UK camera production facility and be responsible for assembly, test, and commissioning of up to half the SST cameras being supplied to the CTA observatory.
Collaborator Contribution The SST Programme team will supply and commission the telescope structures and cameras for the CTA Small SIzed Telescope array of up to 70 telescopes, to be based at the CTA southern site in Chile.
Impact This collaboration is still in its early days. Camera production will begin in late 2021.
Start Year 2019
 
Description CTA Small Sized telescope Programme 
Organisation North-West University
Country South Africa 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution The University of Leicester has played a lead role in the development of the CHEC camera, now selected as the SST camera. Leicester will host the UK camera production facility and be responsible for assembly, test, and commissioning of up to half the SST cameras being supplied to the CTA observatory.
Collaborator Contribution The SST Programme team will supply and commission the telescope structures and cameras for the CTA Small SIzed Telescope array of up to 70 telescopes, to be based at the CTA southern site in Chile.
Impact This collaboration is still in its early days. Camera production will begin in late 2021.
Start Year 2019
 
Description CTA Small Sized telescope Programme 
Organisation Observatory of Paris
Country France 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution The University of Leicester has played a lead role in the development of the CHEC camera, now selected as the SST camera. Leicester will host the UK camera production facility and be responsible for assembly, test, and commissioning of up to half the SST cameras being supplied to the CTA observatory.
Collaborator Contribution The SST Programme team will supply and commission the telescope structures and cameras for the CTA Small SIzed Telescope array of up to 70 telescopes, to be based at the CTA southern site in Chile.
Impact This collaboration is still in its early days. Camera production will begin in late 2021.
Start Year 2019
 
Description CTA Small Sized telescope Programme 
Organisation Universidade de São Paulo
Country Brazil 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution The University of Leicester has played a lead role in the development of the CHEC camera, now selected as the SST camera. Leicester will host the UK camera production facility and be responsible for assembly, test, and commissioning of up to half the SST cameras being supplied to the CTA observatory.
Collaborator Contribution The SST Programme team will supply and commission the telescope structures and cameras for the CTA Small SIzed Telescope array of up to 70 telescopes, to be based at the CTA southern site in Chile.
Impact This collaboration is still in its early days. Camera production will begin in late 2021.
Start Year 2019
 
Description CTA Small Sized telescope Programme 
Organisation University of Adelaide
Country Australia 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution The University of Leicester has played a lead role in the development of the CHEC camera, now selected as the SST camera. Leicester will host the UK camera production facility and be responsible for assembly, test, and commissioning of up to half the SST cameras being supplied to the CTA observatory.
Collaborator Contribution The SST Programme team will supply and commission the telescope structures and cameras for the CTA Small SIzed Telescope array of up to 70 telescopes, to be based at the CTA southern site in Chile.
Impact This collaboration is still in its early days. Camera production will begin in late 2021.
Start Year 2019
 
Description CTA Small Sized telescope Programme 
Organisation University of Amsterdam
Country Netherlands 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution The University of Leicester has played a lead role in the development of the CHEC camera, now selected as the SST camera. Leicester will host the UK camera production facility and be responsible for assembly, test, and commissioning of up to half the SST cameras being supplied to the CTA observatory.
Collaborator Contribution The SST Programme team will supply and commission the telescope structures and cameras for the CTA Small SIzed Telescope array of up to 70 telescopes, to be based at the CTA southern site in Chile.
Impact This collaboration is still in its early days. Camera production will begin in late 2021.
Start Year 2019
 
Description CTA Small Sized telescope Programme 
Organisation University of Liverpool
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution The University of Leicester has played a lead role in the development of the CHEC camera, now selected as the SST camera. Leicester will host the UK camera production facility and be responsible for assembly, test, and commissioning of up to half the SST cameras being supplied to the CTA observatory.
Collaborator Contribution The SST Programme team will supply and commission the telescope structures and cameras for the CTA Small SIzed Telescope array of up to 70 telescopes, to be based at the CTA southern site in Chile.
Impact This collaboration is still in its early days. Camera production will begin in late 2021.
Start Year 2019
 
Description CTA Small Sized telescope Programme 
Organisation University of Oxford
Department Department of Physics
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution The University of Leicester has played a lead role in the development of the CHEC camera, now selected as the SST camera. Leicester will host the UK camera production facility and be responsible for assembly, test, and commissioning of up to half the SST cameras being supplied to the CTA observatory.
Collaborator Contribution The SST Programme team will supply and commission the telescope structures and cameras for the CTA Small SIzed Telescope array of up to 70 telescopes, to be based at the CTA southern site in Chile.
Impact This collaboration is still in its early days. Camera production will begin in late 2021.
Start Year 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 Camera for the Small-sized telescope on CTA 
Description The production design of a photon-counting camera specifically designed for the Small-Sized Telescope array of the Cherenkov Telescope Array (CTA). CTA is a 350M Euro international astroparticle astronomy facility undergoing construction at two sites in La Palma and Chile. There will be 37+ such cameras deployed on CTA, within the next 5-7 years. Each camera utilises an array of 2048 silicon photomultipliers to detect Cherenov light showers of ~10 nanoseconds 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 2022 
Impact The GCT camera prototype, CHEC-S, a candidate for the CTA Small-Sized telescope (SST) array, was chosen in 2019 in competition with 2 other cameras, to be used on CTA. This prototype has been used to developed the final SST camera design, completed in 2022. 
URL https://www.cta-observatory.org/project/technology/sst/
 
Title TARGET front-end electronics module - third major revision 
Description A third major revision of the TARGET electronics module designed for application to photon-counting cameras deployed on the Cherenkov Telescope Array (CTA). The TARGET module is a 64 channel 12-bit, 1 GSample per second digitizer with trigger functionality. The TARGET front-end electronics module has been improved by: redesign of the analogue electronic design to improve noise performance and the camera energy resolution, and enhancement of the sensor control system to improve operational characteristics and camera calibration CTA is a 350M Euro international facility for astroparticle astronomy. 
Type Of Technology Systems, Materials & Instrumental Engineering 
Year Produced 2021 
Impact The TARGET front-end electronics (FEE) module is a core component of the electronics systems of the both CHEC and SCT cameras developed for deployment on CTA Small-Sized Telescopes (SST) and Medium-Sized Telescopes (MST) respectively. The final SST array of up to 70 telescopes may require 32 to 60 FEE modules (depending on final format) per camera and each MST requires 177 FEE modules. Thus many thousands of these modules are likely to be eventually deployed on CTA by its completion in the mid-2020s. 
 
Description CTA SST Camera International Workshop 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Study participants or study members
Results and Impact CTA SST Camera International Workshop to discuss and review technical design, performance, and other issues in preparation for moving towards full scale production of 42 cameras for the SST Southern Site in Chile.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2023
 
Description CTA Science Meeting Jun-21 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact Introduction to science with CTA to the wider scientific audience and funders
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2021
URL http://cta2021.iopconfs.org/home
 
Description Landau seminar, U. Loughborough 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Local
Primary Audience Other audiences
Results and Impact A eminar given on the Cherenkov telescope Array for the Landau seminar series at Loughborough University to academics and postgraduate students from the physics department.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2022