Prof J Lapington
No more applications being accepted
Competition Funded PhD Project (European/UK Students Only)
About the Project
One of the strongest drivers in astronomy is the observation of the universe in ever greater detail by improving the spatial resolution of telescopes. Currently, the highest resolution is achieved using phase/amplitude interferometry in the near-infrared, however this requires extremely high optical precision. This limitation is overcome by intensity interferometry (II), a technique which relies on the chaotic, rapid fluctuation in light from a star and the time correlation of intensity fluctuations, measured independently on two or more telescopes. II is insensitive to both atmospheric turbulence and telescope optics, enabling the observation over very long baselines and at short optical wavelengths.
The High-Speed Imaging Group within the Space Research Centre at Leicester, led by Professor Jon Lapington, specialises in the research and development of vacuum and solid-state based photon-counting detectors for space and other applications where ultimate sensitivity coupled with imaging and ultra-high time resolution is a requirement. The group is currently leading camera development for the Small-Sized Telescope array for the Cherenkov Telescope Array (CTA) and has a number of related research programmes, including investigation of novel techniques for photon timing in the picosecond regime.
This project will explore techniques to exploit the power of II using the CTA, an array of ~100 large telescopes primarily used for high energy gamma-ray astronomy. With possible resolution approaching 30 µas, an II facility for CTA has the potential to image shapes and surfaces of rapidly rotating hot stars, structures such as circumstellar accretion disks, optical jets and wind outflows, gas flows between close binaries, or could map pulsations across stellar surfaces.
The studentship will explore and define approaches to implement and II capability for CTA, using picosecond photon timing detector technologies developed within the High-Speed Imaging group at Leicester, culminating in a proof of concept demonstration using the selected technologies. The programme will involve: II Modelling and instrument simulation using a Monte Carlo approach; experimental investigation of hardware detection techniques; a Design Study for application to CTA; and on-telescope astronomical observations involving field trials on overseas-based telescopes.
Funding Notes
This project is eligible for a fully funded STFC studentship which includes :
· A full UK/EU fee waiver for 3.5 years
· An annual tax free stipend of £14,777 (2018/19)
· Research Training Support Grant (RTSG)
· Conference Fees & UK Fieldwork
Studentships are available to UK/EU applicants who meet the STFC Residency Criteria; if you have been ordinarily resident in the UK for three years you will normally be entitled to apply for a full studentship.
References
[1] Dravins, Dainis, Stephan LeBohec, Hannes Jensen, Paul D. Nuñez, and CTA Consortium. "Optical intensity interferometry with the Cherenkov Telescope Array." Astroparticle Physics 43 (2013): 331-347.
[2] Acharya, B. S., M. Actis, T. Aghajani, G. Agnetta, J. Aguilar, F. Aharonian, Marco Ajello et al. "Introducing the CTA concept." Astroparticle physics 43 (2013): 3-18.
[3] Lapington, J. S., A. Abchiche, D. Allan, J-P. Amans, T. P. Armstrong, A. Balzer, D. Berge et al. "The GCT camera for the Cherenkov Telescope Array." Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research Section A: Accelerators, Spectrometers, Detectors and Associated Equipment 876 (2016): 1-4.
Continue with Facebook
