CTA
The Cherenkov Telescope Array
The Cherenkov Telescope Array (CTA) will be the largest ground-based gamma-ray experiment ever built. It will consist of more than 100 telescopes in total and be constructed at two different sites, one on the Northern Hemisphere (La Palma, Spain) and one on the Southern one (Paranal, Chile).
CTA uses the imaging atmospheric air shower technique to study photons of the highest energies. Gamma-rays are detected by observing the Cherenkov radiation that is emitted by charged particles in the air shower that is initiated when the gamma-ray hits the atmosphere of the Earth. The telescopes employ large mirrors to collect the Cherenkov photons and fast cameras to register them.
CTA will reach sensitivities that are improved by 10 times with respect to currently running experiments. Telescopes of three different sizes will be installed to cover an energy range from about 20 giga-electronvolts (GeV) up to 300 tera-electronvolts (TeV). These telescopes are usually called Small-Size Telescopes (SSTs), Medium-Size Telescopes (MSTs) and Large-Size Telescopes (LSTs).
For more information, you can visit the project webpage or check out the CTA image gallery.
CTA at ECAP
At ECAP, we are involved in the development of both software and hardware components for CTA. On the hardware side, we work on camera systems for two telescope types and perform test measurements of the telescope mirrors. Furthermore, we help to develop new software packages for the analysis of data that will be collected by CTA.
Development and production of photosensor modules
FlashCam is a concept for the camera of the Medium-Size Telescopes (MSTs) of CTA. At ECAP, we are involved in the optimization, testing, and production of the photosensor modules used in the camera, which includes the characterization of the photomultiplier tubes that the modules consist of. For this work, we collaborate with the Institute of Physics at the University of Zürich and the MPI-K Heidelberg.
Development of the Pointing Camera (PCAM)
Another contribution to the Medium-Size Telescopes (MSTs) of CTA is the Pointing Camera (PCAM). At ECAP, we are responsible for the design, production,and testing of these cameras. They are used to guide the telescope to the correct position in the sky and to correct for inaccuracies introduced by the bending of the telescope structure under load in different orientations.
Development of fast (GHz) readout electronics
We contribute the Small-Size Telescopes (SSTs) for CTA by developing fast readout electronics for the so-called TARGET ASIC chip. We are involved in the development, testing, and integration of the readout chip. This work is carried out together with groups at Oxford University, Leicester University, the University of Amsterdam, MPI-K Heidelberg as well as groups in the US and Japan.
Application of mirror measurement techniques
The production and testing of telescope mirror facets is an organizational and logistical challenge. We pursue two different methods for the precise characterization of the mirrors for the different telescopes planned in CTA, namely the optical 2f-method and phase measuring deflectometry (PMD).
Development of data analysis software
CTA thesis topics
If you are interested in a Bachelor or Master thesis with our CTA group, please contact:
An overview of all thesis topics can be found here.