CTA - Institute of Astro and Particle Physics in Innsbruck

CTA - The Cherenkov Telescope Array

The CTA consortium is performing a Design Study (DS) for the optimization of the performance of the planned observatory and to study its possible implementation. The primary targets of the DS are:

to narrow down the multidimensional space of design options and technology options, optimizing the relation between performance and cost of the facility,
to lay out a clear path for how such a facility can be constructed and operated,
to build and test prototype telescope(s) that are suitable for mass production for a large array of telescope

A duration of about four years is foreseen for the Design Study. While in 2008 the focus is on the optimization of possible layouts of the telescope system and on the evaluation of possible technical implementations, the year 2009 will be used to construct and test components of prototypes. The FP7-fundet CTA-PreperatryPhase aims for preparing the scientific, technical, legal and financial framework to start array construction immediately afterwards.

Innsbruck participates as partner institute in CTA-PP and the CTA consortium.