ReseaRch Quality assuRance foR the futuRe a ... - Lund University

Panel 13 – PHYSICS / MATHEMATICS
The Astronomical Telescopes and Instruments group has punched
well above its weight for an extended period. The group made a major
contribution to one of the two independent design studies for the next
pan-European optical telescope facility undertaken under the auspices
of ESO. Now the group is under contract to provide expertise in what is
effectively the “Phase A” study for the Extremely Large Telescope (ELT)
facility that, realistically, should see completion (or first light at least)
around 2020. However, once the project moves from the initial study
phase to development and fabrication, activity will be concentrated
within industry and at large astronomical departments/observatories. It is
unclear how a very small group will participate effectively in such a huge
project. The age structure of the group is also such that retirements must
surely also be a feature at around the time (2010-2012) that the present
commitments to the ELT design programme are likely to end.
4.3 Publication/Reputation
Astronomical research, although modest in scale compared with many
other branches of science, is a truly international enterprise, in terms
of collaboration, access to facilities and publication. Lund Observatory
participates generally in such international interactions but there would
be something very seriously awry if such were not the case.
The Observatory has been very successful in maintaining an international
presence in several different areas, particularly given the small number
of academic personnel. The quality of the three primary research groups
falls predominantly in the excellent category. There is some activity
that would fall in the very good category but an equal fraction of the
Observatory’s output would probably rate an outstanding.
The mix of activity is somewhat unusual and two of the three main
research groups, Atomic Physics and Telescopes and Instrumentation,
participate in research fields that are widely regarded as very important but
that result in a relatively small number of publications that receive relatively
few citations. Given the make-up of the research activity, the productivity
is certainly very good, with a few elements achieving an excellent.
The number of postgraduate students is modest but the best products of the
Observatory’s programme are competitive with those of the very top institutions
in Germany and the United Kingdom (and likely other countries).
376