A Programme of Astronomical Instrumentation and High-Energy Astrophysics at Durham 2013-2015

我们建议将我们在地面和天基望远镜天文仪器研究和开发方面的成功滚动方案与高能天体物理学的观测和理论工作结合起来。在2013-2015年间，我们将进行高保真实验室实验，以评估精确到可见光波长的自适应光学校正的适用性，并利用垂直湍流廓线设备的数据来研究低空湍流对望远镜性能的影响。我们还将继续我们与ESO的联合计划，为未来的自适应光学系统开发下一代实时控制系统，并利用我们的内部制造能力进行开发计划，为下一代仪器提供高精度的大直径钻石加工光学设备。我们将探索光子学技术的应用，以提高使用光纤开关和稳像光学技术的未来天文光谱仪的通用性和效率。我们的综合高能天体物理方案将利用来自新的硬X射线卫星的数据来研究致密天体周围的极端吸积流，并将为下一代高能伽马射线设施--切伦科夫望远镜阵列--制定一个外联方案。

We propose to consolidate our successful rolling programme of research and development in astronomical instrumentation for ground- and space-based telescopes with observational and theoretical work in high-energy astrophysics. Over the period 2013-2015 we will make high-fidelity laboratory experiments to assess the applicability of adaptive optics correction down to visible wavelengths, and exploit data from vertical turbulence profiling equipment to study the effects of low-altitude turbulence on telescope performance. We will also continue our joint programme with ESO to develop the next generation of real-time control systems for future adaptive optics systems, and undertake a development programme using our in-house manufacturing capability to deliver high-precision large-diameter diamond-machined optics for next-generation instruments. We will explore the application of photonics technologies to improving the versatility and efficiency of future astronomical spectrographs using fibre switches and image-stabilising optics. Our rolled up high energy astrophysics programme will use data from new hard X-ray satellites to study extreme accretion flows around compact objects, and will develop an outreach programme for the next-generation high energy gamma ray facility, the Cherenkov Telescope Array.