Projects / Programmes
New atmospheric monitoring devices and techniques for Imaging Atmospheric Cherenkov Telescopes
| Code |
Science |
Field |
Subfield |
| 1.02.00 |
Natural sciences and mathematics |
Physics |
|
| Code |
Science |
Field |
| T181 |
Technological sciences |
Remote sensing |
| Code |
Science |
Field |
| 1.03 |
Natural Sciences |
Physical sciences |
multi-messenger astronomy, very high energy gamma ray astronomy, arrays of imaging air Cherenkov telescopes, atmospheric calibration and monitoring
Researchers (10)
Organisations (2)
Abstract
Cosmic very high-energy (VHE, E ≥ 30 GeV) electromagnetic radiation carries crucial and unique information about the most energetic phenomena in the Universe. The most sensitive experimental approach in VHE gamma-ray astronomy is based on simultaneous imaging of Cherenkov flashes from the VHE gamma ray induced air showers using multiple telescopes (imaging air Cherenkov telescopes or IACTs), and reconstruction of the primary gamma-ray properties from those images. The construction of a new generation IACT facility, the Cherenkov Telescope Array (CTA) with design sensitivity improved by at least an order of magnitude compared to existing VHE instruments and extended energy coverage, will start in 2019 as a joint effort of the international CTA Consortium, which includes Slovenian scientists. CTA is expected to enable the detection of more than 1000 new VHE gamma-ray sources over the whole sky.
Since the atmosphere is used as a IACT calorimeter, atmospheric monitoring and the understanding of atmospheric processes is of paramount importance for its operation and the achievement of its science goals. The understanding of the evolution of the main aerosol characteristics (size, absorption and scattering of light, chemical composition, etc.) is extremely complex and is the primary aim of the proposed project. Its results will represent an important contribution to both atmospheric calibration and monitoring tasks of CTA and therefore to the overall success of CTA.
Significance for science
The main goal of the proposed research is to provide vital information on atmospheric properties above the forefront current and near-future astroparticle physics experiments using the atmosphere as a calorimetric detector component, such as the near-future Cherenkov Telescope Array Observatory (CTA) or the foreseen Pierre Auger Observatory upgrade, which were designed to achieve drastic improvement of data quality as compared to the previous instruments. The project proposes an approach aimed at taking the full advantage of a previous experience of the project team in the atmospheric monitoring for the Pierre Auger experiment and maximizing the impact of a future experiment, the CTA, recognized not only as a top-priority project in the Astroparticle Physics European Consortium (APPEC) roadmap, but also national research infrastructure priority in Slovenia. This proposal will contribute to the realization of the required CTA performances, which is a prerogative for the achievement of the overall scientific impact of the CTA. Our results will be published in open-access, peer-reviewed journals, helping to spread the knowledge gained with this project and increase its impact.
In addition to the direct contributions to astroparticle physics, the project will also greatly contribute to research and development in the rapidly growing field of remote sensing by providing novel detection and analysis techniques as well as the actual detection devices. The proposed activities will take place at the Center for Atmospheric Research of the University of Nova Gorica, which is at present the only Slovenian institution that has achieved international recognition in this field.
The proposed project is integrated in the global research endeavor of the Pierre Auger Collaboration, in which the University of Nova Gorica is a full member together with more than 50 institutions from 18 countries, and the Cherenkov Telescope Array Consortium, consisting of over 1200 members working in 210 institutes from 32 countries.
Significance for the country
The main goal of the proposed research is to provide vital information on atmospheric properties above the forefront current and near-future astroparticle physics experiments using the atmosphere as a calorimetric detector component, such as the near-future Cherenkov Telescope Array Observatory (CTA) or the foreseen Pierre Auger Observatory upgrade, which were designed to achieve drastic improvement of data quality as compared to the previous instruments. The project proposes an approach aimed at taking the full advantage of a previous experience of the project team in the atmospheric monitoring for the Pierre Auger experiment and maximizing the impact of a future experiment, the CTA, recognized not only as a top-priority project in the Astroparticle Physics European Consortium (APPEC) roadmap, but also national research infrastructure priority in Slovenia. This proposal will contribute to the realization of the required CTA performances, which is a prerogative for the achievement of the overall scientific impact of the CTA. Our results will be published in open-access, peer-reviewed journals, helping to spread the knowledge gained with this project and increase its impact.
In addition to the direct contributions to astroparticle physics, the project will also greatly contribute to research and development in the rapidly growing field of remote sensing by providing novel detection and analysis techniques as well as the actual detection devices. The proposed activities will take place at the Center for Atmospheric Research of the University of Nova Gorica, which is at present the only Slovenian institution that has achieved international recognition in this field.
The proposed project is integrated in the global research endeavor of the Pierre Auger Collaboration, in which the University of Nova Gorica is a full member together with more than 50 institutions from 18 countries, and the Cherenkov Telescope Array Consortium, consisting of over 1200 members working in 210 institutes from 32 countries.
Most important scientific results
Interim report
Most important socioeconomically and culturally relevant results
Interim report
