96390 - ASTRONOMICAL INSTRUMENTATION

Conoscenze e abilità da conseguire

The aim of the course is to provide a coherent and state-of-the-art account of instruments and techniques in use in astronomy and astrophysics. In a multiband approach, the course deals with structure of the instrumentation and criteria to evaluate and optimize their performances. It foresees a number of “external” contributions from specialists in specific areas. The course foresees as well visits to, and interactions with external laboratories. Thus, after getting common foundations, the students will be exposed to the most modern advances, in an area in continuous and fast evolution. On a side, students with specific interest in instrumentation will reach an effective starting point to be involved in instrumental projects, in scientific institutes or industries. On another side, students more interested in astrophysical results will reach a fair understanding of the observing processes which are the ground of the following developments. As a further, not minor aim, the course would contribute to reduce the present trend to enlarge the gap between “instrumentation” and “astrophysics”.

Contenuti

The course foresee an initial general introduction. After that researchers active in specific astrophysical technologies will present techniques, results, and perspectives in "blocks" of 6-8 h and seminars. For some of the modules, experiences in the laboratories will be performed.

1 - General introduction 4-8h

• EM radiation – Atmospheric transmission
• Detection of EM radiation (Radio-Submm-IR-Opt-HE)
• Ground Based Telescopes (Radio-Submm-Opt/IR)
• Space telescopes (Radio-SubmmIR-Opt-HE)

2 - Specific techniques ~40h

1. 6-8h - OAS - Adaptive optics (Rodeghiero/Umbriaco/Roccatagliata) (6h+2h)
2. 6-8h – OAS - mm wave detection, ALMA, cryogeny (Villa/Cuttaia/Morgante/Terenzi)
3. 6-8h – OAS -HE payload construction (Campana/Virgilli)
4. 6-8h – IRA Radio wave detection (Lofar, SKA, SRT)( Naldi, Monari/P)
5. 6-8h - CTA telescopes and detectors (Zanin)

Modules 1 to 3 foresee a visit to the specific labs at INAF local premises. Module 4 foresees an instruction trip to Medicina.

3 - Seminars 4h

1) 2h - Managing an instrumental project - Amati (OAS)

2) 2h - ESO VLT and EELT instrumentation - Cirasuolo (ESO) 

Possible, but tbd, an instruction trip to the INAF-Merate Astrophysics technology centre.

Order of the modules to be defined.

VERY IMPORTANT - The course can be introductory to a 3 credit INTERNSHIP and to a 15 credit Master Thesis work, to be agreed with the laboratory of interest .

Testi/Bibliografia

a) Good reference books (although not "the" textbooks) are:

Chromey, To Measure the Sky,Cambridge University Press

Rieke, Measuring the Universe: A Multiwavelength Perspective

b) Refer to the wide offer presented in the course of Multiwavelength Astrophysics Techniques.

b) each "block" will provide specific powerpoint, papers, notes.

All the material will be made available on Virtuale or is available in the DIFA/UniBo libraries

Metodi didattici

Conventional lectures and seminars.

Visit to the laboratories

Experiments in the laboratories.

Attending lectures is important to properly understand the experiments in the laboratories.

 

Modalità di verifica e valutazione dell'apprendimento

10% - Participation in the laboratory experiments (in groups), preparation of the small report. This part is done during the course and will test the ability to effectively work in groups and prepare a correct experiment report.

70% - Presentation and discussion of a short (5-8 pages) written report on one of the modules and the relevant visited laboratory. This will be and in depth study of one of the modules, under the guidance of the lecturers of that specific module. During the exam will be tested the knowledge of that module, and the ability to concisely and effectively present the topics.

20% - Discussion on additional questions on the general content of the course, specifically focusing on the topics covered in the introductory lectures and seminars.

Overall the scope of the final is to verify the ability of the student to apply the knowledge acquired and to understand the technology used in the module of their choice. In this course it is especially important to understand the applicability, limitations, and strengths of the technologies and how these are linked to the astronomical performance of the instruments.

Limited knowledge on the course topics, inability to concisely expose topics, in some occasion the help of the examiner is required to expose topics in the correct language and terminology -> 18-19

Limited knowledge on some course topics, good knowledge on others, ability to concisely and effectively present topics, correct use of language and terminology, limited help from the examiner -> 20-24

Good knowlege of all course topics, good ability to concisely and effectively present topics, correct use of language and terminology, no help from the examiner -> 25-29

Excellent knowlege of all course topics, ability to concisely and effectively present, and language and terminology, ability to make connections and reason on how to apply the knowledge across topics -> 30-30L

Following the decision of the CdS on Astrophysics and Cosmology, students that pass the final examination will be allowed to repeat the final a maximum of three times (each attempt will be no less than four weeks from the previous one).

 

Strumenti a supporto della didattica

Conventional lectures with power point.

Seminars.

Experiments proposed in the INAF laboratories

Visit to laboratories (potentially preparatory to internships)

Orario di ricevimento

Consulta il sito web di Leonardo Testi