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Description
The impressive astro-physics results of the ground-based very high-energy ramma-ray instruments like CANGAROO, H.E.S.S., MAGIC or VERITAS have generated a huge interest in both the astro-physics and particle physics communities. It is clear by now that there is a need for a next-generation instrument with higher sensitivity that is able to serve a large community of users.
CTA, the next-generation Cherenkov Telescope Array, is planned by a consortium of institutes. The goal is to design, construct and operate this instrument for very high-energy gamma-ray astronomy providing
- a sensitivity improvement compared to current instruments of approximately one order of magnitude
- an enlarged energy range at lower and higher energies
- improved angular resolution
- enhanced flexibility of operation
- full-sky coverage.
The instrument will consist of large arrays of Imaging Atmospheric Cherenkov Telescopes (IACTs) located at a Northern and a Southern site. The Southern array will provide enhanced energy coverage for the study of Galactic and extra-galactic sources, while the Northern array will focus on extra-galactic science and therefore probably has a focus on lower energies.
CTA will be operated as an observatory, open to the scientific community, and provide appropriate tools for data access as well as integration into the Virtual Observatory.
Recently the CTA design study started, which involves
- optimization of the CTA IACT array(s) on the basis of simulation studies, in particular on telescope types and size, camera field of view, pixel size and telescope separation and arrangement, timing and trigger requirements
- technical design of the telescopes and components
- construction and commissioning of component prototypes and of prototype telescopes
- study of the infrastructure required to operate the CTA array
- study and exploration of potential sites
- design and initial implementation of tools to handle observation requests, schedule observations, to process the data and to provide efficient access to data.
The aim is that after the design and prototype phase, the construction of the arrays will start in 2012.
