Key Technologies Working Group
Astronomy is an observational science and progress is often driven
by the availability of new instruments, detectors and observing
techniques. The OPTICON Key Technologies Working Group is
investigating what will be required for the next generation of
European facilities. Its aim is produce technology roadmaps,
encourage collaborative European technology development
projects and provide a forum for taking advantage of future
opportunities. An important goal is to encourage the formation of
new teams who will propose new technology development
programmes as was done during the OPTICON FP5 activity.
The goal of the Key Technologies
Working
Group
is
to
identify
technologies that are needed for
European telescopes and instruments
in the next decade. The objective is to
identify short tem technology needs to
exploit existing telescopes and longer
term issues which will eventually be
required for a European ELT. The
working group will work closely with
the six OPTICON Joint Research
Activities
Specialist Topic Groups
Topics for the working group will
evolve over the 5 year programme,
but likely subjects include:
• Advanced Optical devices.
• Adaptive Optics
Tools
The Key Technology Working Group
operates an interactive website to
keep its membership in contact.
Specific meetings are held to
develop and update a technology
roadmap for astronomy.
Regular Workshops and working
group meetings will be held.
An industry forum will bridge the
gap between academia and industry
to ensure a two way flow of
information and innovation
The OPTICON Integrated
Infrastructure Initiative brings
together all of Western
Europe's owners and
operators of large
observatories and data
centres. Our goal is to identify
opportunities where greater
progress can be made by
collaboration than by
competition, and to take
unified actions to achieve
those agreed goals.
Contacts
Chair: Technology Working
Group
Mr. Colin Cunningham,
UK Astronomy Technology Centre,
Blackford Hill
Edinburgh, EH9 3HJ
United Kingdom
Telephone: +44 (0)131 668 8223
E-mail: [email protected]
OPTICON Project Scientist
Wavefront Correctors
•Metrology of complex optical surfaces
to enable economic manufacture of
large adaptive mirrors and mirror
segments.
•System modeling, including thermal
models of complex cryogenic
instruments
•Detectors: Fast, high sensitivity
infrared focal plane arrays for high
angular resolution astronomy to allow
access to many more natural guide
stars in the infrared, and hence direct
imaging of faint objects near stars.
Links to Industry and SMEs
Precision Optical Pick-off Arm
Our Mission
We are building connections with
European Industry in order to develop
partnerships that will enhance European
astronomy technology.
OPTICON is funded by the European Commission under Contract no RII3-CT-2004-001566
Dr. John K. Davies
UK Astronomy Technology Centre,
Blackford Hill
Edinburgh, EH9 3HJ
United Kingdom
Telephone: +44 (0)131 668 8348
E-mail: [email protected]
Web: www.astro-opticon.org
OPTICON - The Optical
Infrared Coordination Network
for Astronomy