Design and construction of a prototype for the Cherenkov Telescope Array Observatory

• Grant number: 10/19514-6
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• Start date: August 01, 2011
• End date: January 31, 2014
• Field of knowledge: Physical Sciences and Mathematics - Physics - Elementary Particle Physics and Fields
• Principal Investigator: Luiz Vitor de Souza Filho
• Grantee: Luiz Vitor de Souza Filho
• Host Institution: Instituto de Física de São Carlos (IFSC). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Carlos , SP, Brazil
• Associated researchers: Carlos Jose Todero Peixoto ; Elisabete Maria de Gouveia Dal Pino ; Grzegorz Kowal ; Gustavo de Araujo Rojas ; Ivone Freire da Mota e Albuquerque ; Marcelo Augusto Leigui de Oliveira

Abstract

This research project aims to provide the means for the participation of scientists from the State of São Paulo in the efforts to design and construct the Cherenkov Telescope Array (CTA) Observatory. CTA is an international collaboration which intends to construct a new generation of ground gamma ray telescopes to study astroparticle physics among other subjects of astrophysical interest. The plan is to build hundreds of telescopes in three different configurations in order to detect gamma rays with energies between 10 GeV and 100 TeV. Ground based gamma ray telescopes have been proved to produce very interesting results over the last two decades. The CTA experiment, which will have 10 times more sensitivity than any currently operating gamma ray telescope, is presently at the study phase and choice of sites. Among these Argentina is a strong potential candidate to host the CTA branch in the south hemisphere. The prototype phase should start in the middle of the next year and the construction should begin in 2013. Recently, a Brazilian group of scientists listed below has been accepted as member of the construction phase. The Brazilian researchers will participate in several phases of the experiment, such as, the design of the telescope using Monte Carlo simulations, data analysis and the study of the astrophysics of the sources. Considering the experience of the Brazilian scientists in the construction of former optical and astroparticle physics observatories, the international CTA collaboration is expecting a significant participation of Brazil in the construction of the telescope. This roll will be even stronger if Argentina is chosen as the CTA south site, in which case the participation of Brazilian industries could help to guarantee the success of the construction phase. A possible contribution from the Brazilian companies to build mirrors and the mechanical structure of the telescopes is foreseen. We are already in contact with some companies. Therefore, this research project has the purpose to guarantee the participation of scientists of the State of São Paulo in CTA, allowing them to: a) attend the meetings of the international collaboration, b) establish contact with Brazilian companies to seek for potential partners, and c) build, test and install parts of the prototypes that can be developed in Brazil, and d) participate in Monte Carlo simulation efforts and in the development of software for data analysis. (AU)

Scientific publications

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

SUPANITSKY, A. D.; DE SOUZA, V.. An upper limit on the cosmic-ray luminosity of individual sources from gamma-ray observations. Journal of Cosmology and Astroparticle Physics, n. 12, DEC 2013. (10/19514-6)

SUPANITSKY, A. D.; DE SOUZA, V.. An upper limit on the cosmic-ray luminosity of individual sources from gamma-ray observations. Journal of Cosmology and Astroparticle Physics, v. N/A, n. 12, p. 16-pg., 2013-12-01. (10/19514-6)