Laboratory of Astrophysical Apparatus - Overview

Full text: In 2009 the Laboratory of Astrophysical Apparatus (LAA) continued work on three main scientific projects: 1. The '' π of the Sky '' experiment (http://grb.fuw.edu.pl) has been carried out in our institute for many years in collaboration with several national and foreign institutes with the aim of detecting short optical counterparts (so-called afterglow) of Gamma-Ray Bursts (GRB) and other short time scale (a few seconds) optical astrophysics phenomena. The continual observations are carried out with the use of automated equipment remotely controlled over the Internet. In 2009: · Around 100 short optical flashes were registered. · A collaboration was established with the aim of looking for optical counterparts of alerts generated by the gravity wave detectors LIGO and VIRGO. The instrumentation used in the project is systematically developed. In 2009: · in cooperation with Warsaw University. Centre of Cosmic Research and CREOTECH the production of 24 cameras, 6 robots and Ethernet controlled power supply systems was continued. · the construction of a remotely controlled test station in Swierk was completed. · control software for robots was written and tested. · with the aim of improving system reliability the data acquisition software was modified and improved. 2. The LAA is involved in a series of international observational projects aiming at understanding the evolution of the Large Scale Structure of the Universe and its relation to the evolution of galaxies. · The VIMOS-VLT Deep Survey (VVDS, http: www.oamp.fr/virmos ) is an extensive imaging and spectroscopic survey of the deep universe, covering a redshift range between 0 and 5. Currently it contains more than 50.000 redshifts. Most of these data have already been made public (http: cencosnew.oamp.fr ); their detailed analysis is still on-going, · In 2009 the first spectroscopic observations of the new, larger, galaxy survey VIPERS (VIMOS Public Extragalactic Redshift Survey) were started. This survey is aimed at mapping the Universe at z∼-1 over an unprecedented volume, measuring redshifts of- 100 000 galaxies over an area of 24 square degrees. With these figures, the VIPERS data set will be the z∼1 equivalent of current state-of-the-art '' local '' surveys such as the 2dFGRS, allowing us to compare measurements at these two different epochs on an equal statistical footing, VIPERS scientific investigations will focus on measurements of large-scale structure and cosmological parameters at an epoch when the Universe was about half its current age. The first ∼ 7000 redshifts have already been gathered and measured, the next observations are on-going, and the scientific results from the '' first epoch '' data are expected in 2010. · Yet another important collaboration is with the AKAR1 project (http: www.ir.isas.jaxa.jp ASTRO-F/), a satellite performing a sky survey in the infrared. In 2009 we took part in an extensive analysis of the AKARI data, with the aim of understanding the properties of galaxies visible in the far infrared. 3. The LAA takes part in the POLAR international project (http: isdc.unige.ch polar ). POLAR is a space instrument devoted to measuring polarization of gamma rays, it is optimised for measurements of the polarization of gamma photons coming from GRBs. Within the project in 2009: · a series of 128 plastic scintillators bars that are planned to be used in an orbital polarimeter was manufactured, tested and delivered to PDI Zurich, · the Hamamatsu H8500 photomultiplier proposed for the polarimeter was extensively tested. · the demo model of the control electronics constructed for the polarimeter was tested at Geneva University. In parallel to our scientific activity in 2009 the LAA participated in two other R(and)D projects: 1. Partially supported by EU project POIG01.01.02-14-12/08-00 '' Development of specialized systems using accelerators and detectors of ionizing radiation for medical therapy and detection of dangerous materials and toxic wastes '', where the LAA took part in work on fast neutron activation, radiographic imaging and electronic design. 1. 7FP European project EuCard with a contribution by the LAA to the development of accelerator control equipment. (author)