Activity Summary

 

Activity Number Descriptive Title Short description and specific objectives of the activity
Networking activities    
N1 Management of OPTICON Overall consortium management and reporting
N2 Coordination and Integration of ENO Facilities

Coordination and integration of the observing facilities at the Canarian Observatories Observatorio Del Teide and Observatorio Del Roque De Los Muchachos, described here as ENO. Specifically: Co-ordination of specific joint actions among different scientific communities with telescope facilities at the European Northern Observatory (Canary Islands, Spain). Specific objectives: Co-ordination of individual initiatives, a group of experts and specialized meetings on RTD support at major research infrastructures, and a pilot experience on a common laser traffic control system.

Co-ordination of individual efforts currently running in order to get a more complete and consistent view of the sky quality (Site Characterization) at the Canarian Observatories, a premier astronomical observing site in Europe. Implementation of a remotely accessible network database integrating relevant parameters and documents, and a common and continuously updated website.

Promotion of joint actions among telescope operators at ENO. Specific objectives: A non-centralized Joint Information System (JIS) for the European solar physics community, the evaluation of the scientific productivity from ENO telescopes, and specific actions on Transfer of Knowledge

N3 Structuring European Astronomy

Identify needs and develop actions to structure the European astronomical community around several large projects including:

Provide mechanisms for specific astronomical sub disciplines, such as those interested in extremely large telescopes, UV astronomy etc to make their communities more coherent, remove duplication of effort and plan long term development strategies.

A working group to identify promising new technologies and find synergies and technology transfer opportunities with other research areas and the commercial sector.

Establish guidelines for a next generation astronomical software environment to allow exchange of data, algorithms and data processing code between projects, infrastructures and research groups

N4 Mechanisms for synergy in space-ground coordination Develop proposals to enhance synergies between space and ground astronomy
N5 Interferometry forum Bring optical-IR interferometry into main-stream astronomy, especially involving the Candidate countries
N6 OPTICON Telescopes network Provide a forum for telescope directors to monitor and enhance the OPTICON transnational access programme, and ensure appropriate complementary measures are taken.
Access activities    
TA1 Access to Infrastructure “UKIRT” To offer access to the 3.8m UK infrared telescope on Mauna Kea, Hawaii.
TA2 Access to Infrastructure “ING” To offer access the 2.5m Isaac Newton Telescope and the 4.2m William Herschel Telescope of the Isaac Newton Group on La Palma, Canary Islands, Spain.
TA3 Access to Infrastructure “ESO/La Silla” To offer access to the 3.6m Telescope, the 3.5m NTT Telescope and the 2.2m MPA-ESO Telescope at La Silla, Chile
TA4 Access to Infrastructure “CFHT” To offer access to the 3.6m Canada-France-Hawaii Telescope on Mauna Kea, Hawaii.
TA5 Access to Infrastructure “OHP” To offer access to the 1.93m Telescope of the Observatoire de Haut Provence, France.
TA6 Access to Infrastructure “TBL” To offer access to the Telescope Bernard Lyot at the Observatoire Pic du Midi, France
TA7 Access to Infrastructure “TCS” To offer access to the Telescopio Carlos Sánchez (TCS) installed on Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain.
TA8 Access to Infrastructure “TNG” To offer access to the 3.5m Telescopio Nazionale Galileo (TNG) Telescope on La Palma, Canary Islands, Spain.
TA9 Access to Infrastructure “CAHA” To offer access to the 3.5m and 2.2m Telescopes at the Calar Alto Observatory in Spain.
TA10 Access to Infrastructure “NOT” To offer access to the 2.5m Nordic Optical Telescope on La Palma, Canary Islands, Spain.
TA11 Access to Infrastructure “VTT” To offer access to the Vacuum Tower Telescope (VTT) installed on La Palma, Canary Islands, Spain.
TA12 Access to Infrastructure “SST” To offer access to the Swedish 1m Solar Telescope (SST) installed on La Palma, Canary Islands, Spain.
TA13 Access to Infrastructure “DOT” To offer access to the Dutch Open Telescope (DOT) on La Palma, Canary Islands, Spain.
TA14 Access to Infrastructure “THEMIS” To offer access to the THEMIS telescope installed on Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain.
TA15 Access to Infrastructure “Aristarchos” To offer access to the Greek 2.3m Aristarchos telescope on Mt Helmos, Greece.
TA16 Access to Infrastructure “Liverpool Telescope” To offer access to the 2m Liverpool Telescope (LT) on La Palma, Canary Islands, Spain.
TA17 Access to Infrastructure “AAO” To offer access to the 4m Anglo Australian Telescope and the 1.2m UK Schmidt Telescope at the Anglo-Australian Observatory in Siding Springs, Australia.
Research Activities
JRA1 Second Generation Adaptive Optics for 8-10m Telescopes Develop the concepts, designs and technologies required for the next generation of Adaptive Optics capabilities which will equip 8-10 m telescopes over the next decade.
JRA2 Fast Optical Detectors for AO Bring together the best European groups and manufacturers working in the field of detectors and initiate new fast detector developments that are required for the future of European telescopes using Adaptive Optics.. Define, fabricate and fully characterize a high speed low noise detector for Adaptive Optics applications having high sensitivity
JRA3 Fast Readout High Performance Optical Detectors Investigate the scientific applications and technological challenges required to develop new high speed detectors for applications in astronomical research.
JRA4 Integrating Optical Interferometry into Mainstream Astronomy Develop tools that will enable a larger number of astronomers without specialized technical knowledge to use interferometers for their research and the growth of the interferometric community in Europe.
JRA5 Smart Focal Planes Develop technologies for Integral Field and Multi-Object Spectroscopy and Imaging. This will include technology road-mapping to establish the most promising avenues and links with industries and research organizations.
JRA6 Volume Phase Holographics development for NIR and Optical Astronomical Instrumentation Address the current difficulties associated with Volume Phase Holographic Gratings which prevent their full exploitation in astronomical instrumentation. Promote the role of the European institutions and industries in the development of these novel devices.