Contributions from the Cherenkov Telescope Array (CTA) Consortium to the ICRC 2011

TL;DR

The paper discusses the CTA project, a next-generation gamma-ray observatory aiming to significantly improve sensitivity and resolution, involving a global consortium and progressing through design and preparatory phases.

Contribution

It provides an overview of the CTA project's objectives, consortium activities, and development phases for constructing a state-of-the-art gamma-ray observatory.

Findings

Completion of CTA Design Study phase

Initiation of a three-year Preparatory Phase

Global collaboration of about 750 scientists

Abstract

The Cherenkov Telescope Array (CTA) is a project for the construction of a next generation VHE gamma ray observatory with full sky coverage. Its aim is improving by about one order of magnitude the sensitivity of the existing installations, covering about 5 decades in energy (from few tens of GeV to above a hundred TeV) and having enhanced angular and energy resolutions. During 2010 the project became a truly global endeavour carried out by a consortium of about 750 collaborators from Europe, Asia, Africa and the North and South Americas. Also during 2010 the CTA project completed its Design Study phase and started a Preparatory Phase that is expected to extend for three years and should lead to the starting of the construction of CTA. An overview of the CTA Consortium activities project will be given.