2004 ASTRONOMY & ASTROPHYSICS - Indian Academy of Sciences

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CHAPTER 1 Table A Prioritized list of new facilities being recommended • Ground-based 1 • A 1.5 m-class Optical telescope at Devasthal • A 50 cm-class Solar telescope 2 Imaging TeV γ-ray telescope • Space-based 1 A solar coronograph 2 A Near Infrared Spectro Photometer Table B Recommended technology initiatives • Detector development for γ-rays, hard X-rays and infrared • Active and Adaptive optics • Hard X-ray mirrors • X-ray polarimeter • Space platforms for fundamental physics experiments 3
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY feasibility study for a Near Infrared Spectrometer that could be flown on one of ISRO’s missions. • The committee endorses the recommendation of the Panel on High Energy Astronomy for a new initiative in astronomy at TeV energies. However, it would like to urge the two main groups with expertise in this area to engage in a comprehensive discussion with the national community of astronomers to choose among the various options. Such an approach will make the best use of the expertise available in the country, ensure wider utilization of the facility once it is established and consequently increase the scientific impact. New Technology Initiatives This is certainly the Golden Age of astronomy. Unprecedented progress has been made during the last decade or so in all branches of astronomy. Admittedly, the large telescopes that are now available have played a key role. Perhaps a more important factor has been the spectacular progress in the technology of detectors. We in India have neglected research and development work in this area. Certain areas, like Gallium Arsenide technology and mesoscopic devices, require such huge investments that one cannot contemplate any significant R&D effort for astronomy alone. But there are other areas in which sustained efforts will bring rich rewards. The prioritized recommendations of the committee for focussed R&D efforts are summarized in TABLE B. A continuing effort in detector development is of paramount importance to the future of astronomy in India. The committee recommends that suitable steps should be taken to initiate development work in the following areas. • Large format CCDs for optical astronomy • Near and mid infrared detector arrays • CdZnTe arrays for hard X-rays • Silicon-strip detectors for g -ray astronomy • Gas microstrip/GEM detectors for X-ray and g -ray astronomy A National Centre for Space Sciences and Instrumentation A serious lacuna in Indian astronomy is instrumentation and detector development. While some of the immediate needs are attended to, there is hardly any long-term developmental programme anticipating future needs. Given various constraints, none of the research institutes would be willing to support open ended R&D work such as those listed above. Understandably, their priority would be the ongoing research. To remedy this, the committee recommends the setting up of a National Centre for Space Sciences and Instrumentation. Such a centre should serve the needs of • Astronomy • Atmospheric Sciences • Ocean studies • Aeronomy, etc. The mandate of such a centre would be to primarily pursue R&D work. The envisaged centre should have only a core group of engineers and technical personnel. Scientists from various academic institutions will have adjunct positions at the centre, and carry on their R&D work in collaboration with the core staff at the centre. 4
Page 1 and 2: ASTRONOMY & ASTROPHYSICS A Decadal
Page 3 and 4: This publication of the Academy on
Page 5 and 6: Preface The Indian Academy of Scien
Page 7 and 8: The Academy Committee for Astronomy
Page 9 and 10: h e P a n e l s Theoretical Astroph
Page 11 and 12: C H A P T E R 1 Executive Summary
Page 13: EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The recommendatio
Page 17 and 18: C H A P T E R 2 The Present Revolut
Page 19 and 20: THE PRESENT REVOLUTION IN ASTRONOMY
Page 37 and 38: A large eruptive prominence in HeII
Page 39 and 40: SOLAR PHYSICS • Detailed study of
Page 41 and 42: SOLAR PHYSICS Nainital Observatory
Page 43 and 44: SOLAR PHYSICS Some Possible New Ini
Page 45 and 46: SOLAR PHYSICS Telescope and the Hel
Page 47 and 48: C H A P T E R 4 Optical, Infrared &
Page 49 and 50: OPTICAL, INFRARED & ULTRAVIOLET AST
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OPTICAL, INFRARED & ULTRAVIOLET AST
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OPTICAL, INFRARED & ULTRAVIOLET AST
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One of the 30 antennas of the GMRT
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RADIO ASTRONOMY India’s location
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RADIO ASTRONOMY The first telescope
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RADIO ASTRONOMY Central Electronic
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RADIO ASTRONOMY • Resolution of t
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RADIO ASTRONOMY Some recommendation
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C H A P T E R 6 High Energy Astrono
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HIGH ENERGY ASTRONOMY 100 cm 2 area
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HIGH ENERGY ASTRONOMY Areas of Rese
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HIGH ENERGY ASTRONOMY remnant — E
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HIGH ENERGY ASTRONOMY detectors, an
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HIGH ENERGY ASTRONOMY Gamma Ray Ast
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HIGH ENERGY ASTRONOMY A gamma ray b
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HIGH ENERGY ASTRONOMY Cosmic Rays T
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HIGH ENERGY ASTRONOMY from Hyderaba
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HIGH ENERGY ASTRONOMY • Solar con
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HIGH ENERGY ASTRONOMY nuclear compo
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HIGH ENERGY ASTRONOMY New initiativ
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C H A P T E R Theoretical Astrophys
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THEORETICAL ASTROPHYSICS • The di
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THEORETICAL ASTROPHYSICS There has
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THEORETICAL ASTROPHYSICS 5. Equatio
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C H A P T E R Gravitation and Parti
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GRAVITATION AND PARTICLE ASTROPHYSI
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C H A P T E R Recommendations 9
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RECOMMENDATIONS different aspects s
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RECOMMENDATIONS was installed there
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RECOMMENDATIONS Keeping in mind the
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RECOMMENDATIONS The 1 m telescope a
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RECOMMENDATIONS as the technology t
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RECOMMENDATIONS The committee appre
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RECOMMENDATIONS • All Sky Monitor
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RECOMMENDATIONS using our facilitie
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RECOMMENDATIONS • The committee s
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List of addresses Radio Observatori
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S.N. Bose National Centre for Basic
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Indian Academy of Sciences C. V. Ra
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2004 ASTRONOMY & ASTROPHYSICS - Indian Academy of Sciences

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