2nd Annual Report OPTICON Optical Infrared Co-ordination ...

1. Progress report
1.1 Summary of the activities and major achievements
The second year of operation of OPTICON has shown the project develop from promise into
activity and performance. Progress in all aspects of the activities has been strong, with no
significant difficulties or unforeseen problems, even though the project involves some seventy
laboratories around Europe.
Highlights of the year include completion and delivery of the two printed books about the
`Science Case for an Extremely Large Telescope' NA3), completion of operational
prototypes of new InfraRed VPH gratings(JRA6), negotiation and initiation of major
contracts for optical elements and electronic systems for next generation adaptive optics
facilities (JRA1), contract definition and implementation for two complementary fast detector
systems (JRA2; JRA3), completion and submission of a set of detailed proposals for nextgeneration
interferometric capabilities, including enhancement of the ESO VLTI facility
(JRA4), and specification and development of next generation mart Focal Plane capabilities
(JRA5). All these impressive achievements develop Europe's technical facilities for the
future, both enhancing the best of the current generation of telescopes and instruments, and
leading towards definition and develop of future Extremely Large Telescopes.
These technical achievements are complemented by the highly successful telescope access
programme. The OPTICON access program includes every mid-sized high-quality telescope
world-wide with any European ownership, and provides the essential support to make these
facilities available to any European who writes the best proposals, unconstrained by
nationality. This program, very heavily over-subscribed, is having already an apparent treble
benefit: the best scientific ideas are being supported with no national boundary constraints;
the European astronomical community is devoting its research efforts to the best modern
facilities, thereby strengthening itself; and thirdly, the telescope operators are learning to
operate their facilities in a naturally complementary way, improving efficiency and gaining
from synergy. This last aspect is proving even more important than anticipated, as the benefits
of coordinating facility operation and development are already encouraging facility owners to
plan for truly coordinated future joint operations. These developments are occurring naturally
inside the telescope directors' forum (NA6).
The third aspect of OPTICON's programme is to encourage the community to work together,
and to plan for the future in a way which is both ambitious and coherent. Many OPTICON
networks contribute to this approach, with positive developments on many fronts. Perhaps the
most impressive this year has been developments supporting European intentions to build an
Extremely Large Telescope. This plan is agreed as the highest priority for ground-based
astronomy in all the major European funding agencies and by the ESO Council. OPTICON
delivered the community Science Case, following many major meetings and workshops
involving a wide community, and is focussing technical developments, designed to enhance
extant large telescopes, particularly towards those technologies of clear future relevance to
the Extremely large Telescope. The key Technologies network has played a major role here,
identifying those technologies most likely to become mature, given reasonable investments.
4 Contract [RII3-CT-2004-001566]
Annual Report