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Centro de Astrofísica da Universidade do Porto

Optical Interferometry in Training and in Context (OnTheFringe)

MSCF-CT-2005-029954

Principal investigator
Paulo J. V. Garcia

OnTheFringe is a series of four schools designed to train young astronomers in optical interferometry. Optical interferometry is a new technology enabling observations with angular resolution an order of magnitude larger than the largest single telescopes available, at visible and infrared wavelengths. Optical interferometry is the only technology allowing the systematic direct detection and characterization of Earth-like planets orbiting other stars, playing a key role in ESAs long-range plan through the Darwin mission, and in NASAs Origins programme.

On the ground Europe has achieved world leadership with the ESO Very Large Telescope Interferometer (VLTI). Interferometry from the ground will play a central role in: a) the understanding the lifecycles of stars in the Milky Way; b) the discovery and characterization of planets orbiting stars in the neighborhood; c) the understanding of the energy conversion mechanisms in Active Galactic Nuclei.

The goal of the schools is to train a new generation of astronomers in the use of the VLTI, building critical mass in this emergent field, applying it to astrophysical areas of European leadership, optimizing the scientific use of the VLTI investment, overcoming fragmentation and uneven distribution of knowledge in optical interferometry in the European research area. The proposed activities will therefore increasing European competitiveness in the scientific ground and space programme enable by optical interferometry.

The schools consist in: a) two data reduction schools were young astronomers will learn the essentials to become proficient users of the VLTI and its instruments (MIDI/AMBER and PRIMA; b) two thematic schools where optical interferometry is presented in context with other very high angular resolution techniques in key astrophysical areas of European leadership (AGNs and circumstellar disks and planets).

The schools will have a dedicated web site making relevant materials available to those who cannot attend (e.g. lectures� presentations, data reduction software). Proceedings will be edited and provided to the participants.

The programme is supported by 15 EU member states, including new member states, through the European Interferometric Initiative, thus integrating the entire European optical interferometry community.

Project partners
European Southern Observatory
Observatoire de Paris - Lesia
Max-Planck-Gesellschaft zur Foerderung der Wissenschaften e.V.
Istituto Nazionale di Astrofisica - Osservatorio Astrofisico di Arcetri

Funding institution
European Commission

Start: 1 January 2006
End: 31 December 2008

>> See project website


European Union  Sixth Framework Programme  Marie Curie Actions

Institute of Astrophysics and Space Sciences

Institute of Astrophysics and Space Sciences (IA) is a new but long anticipated research infrastructure with a national dimension. It embodies a bold but feasible vision for the development of Astronomy, Astrophysics and Space Sciences in Portugal, taking full advantage and fully realizing the potential created by the national membership of the European Space Agency (ESA) and the European Southern Observatory (ESO). IA resulted from the merging the two most prominent research units in the field in Portugal: the Centre for Astrophysics of the University of Porto (CAUP) and the Center for Astronomy and Astrophysics of the University of Lisbon (CAAUL). It currently hosts more than two-thirds of all active researchers working in Space Sciences in Portugal, and is responsible for an even greater fraction of the national productivity in international ISI journals in the area of Space Sciences. This is the scientific area with the highest relative impact factor (1.65 times above the international average) and the field with the highest average number of citations per article for Portugal.

Proceed on CAUP's website|Go to IA website