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SUPA Initiatives
Astronomy and Space Physics
TEOPS (Technology for Experimental and Observational Physics in Scotland) Initiative
Potentially the most exciting discoveries in physical science are expected in the fields of astronomy, astro-particle physics, and particle physics over the next ten years. Gravitational waves from violent astrophysical systems in the Universe are on the point of discovery, particle physics promises to gives us new insights into the fundamentals of matter and what happened in the early Universe, and astronomy could well produce evidence of life in other planetary systems in the Universe. Scottish research groups are playing world-leading roles in these areas and are extending their influence by closer collaboration.
The TEOPS (Technology for Experimental and Observational Physics in Scotland) initiative brings together the Institute for Gravitational Research (IGR), the Experimental Particle Physics (PPE) group (both at the University of Glasgow) and the UK Astronomy Technology Centre (ATC) in Edinburgh. This initiative spans the areas of particle physics, astrophysics and astronomy with a common theme of leading edge technology. More details are available at http://teops.lowtemp.org.
Institute for Gravitational Research
The Institute for
Gravitational
Research (IGR), under its Director
Professor
J. Hough FRS, plays a leading part
in the UK/German GEO 600 experiment, in the US LIGO
project and in the ESA/NASA
LISA Project.
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 Suspension
for advanced LIGO |
Experimental Particle Physics: Detector Development
The University of Glasgow has a strong experimental particle physics group (PPE), under the leadership of Prof. D. Saxon FRSE, renowned worldwide not only for its fundamental research in experiments such as Aleph and ATLAS at CERN but also for its applied research in the area of innovative imaging particle and x-ray detectors.The Detector Development group is involved in a wide range of projects related to imaging, radiation detection and detector development, within particle physics, medicine, biology and generic technology development.
Examples of current/recent projects include:
| CERN ATLAS - Production
and testing of modules for the LHC/ATLAS CERN LHCb - Design of LHCb/Velo upgrade detectors CERN Medipix - High sensitivity X-ray imaging for medical and synchrotron applications CERN RD50 - New technologies for super radiation hard detectors Retinal imaging - Measuring the electrical activity of retinal tissues Retinal implants - Pixel detectors as a cure for some forms of blindness |
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| Medipix detector system and x-ray image of
shell (collaborative work with CERN Medipix ) |
UK Astronomy
Technology Centre
The UK Astronomy Technology Centre (UK ATC) at the Royal Observatory Edinburgh is STFC's flagship facility for the design and construction of unique astronomical instrumentation. The mission of the UK ATC is to keep the UK at the forefront of World astronomy by continuing to produce the scientific hardware required to enable cutting edge astronomy to be undertaken.
Dr Andy Longmore leads the Project Science group at UK ATC who work closely with our engineering teams on new instrument concepts. Of our 120 employees, almost 70% are working in technical disciplines including; optical design, electronics, mechanical design, software, cryogenics and vacuum technology.
Some current / recent projects include;
Structural CAD design of 3.8m VISTA telescope
The UK ATC is also involved in several UK and European network and technology development initiatives coordinated by our Technology Development Director, Colin Cunningham;