Imaging Atmospheric Cherenkov Telescopes (IACTs) have transformed ground-based gamma-ray astronomy, enabling the detection and detailed study of very-high-energy (VHE) gamma rays from cosmic sources. Pioneering arrays such as H.E.S.S., MAGIC, and VERITAS demonstrated the power of stereoscopic observations, achieving arcminute-scale angular resolution, enhanced background suppression, and sensitivities on the order of 10⁻¹³ photons cm⁻² s⁻¹. Building on this legacy, the Cherenkov Telescope Array Observatory (CTAO) is the next-generation VHE gamma-ray facility, with two sites located in La Palma (Spain) and the Paranal desert (Chile), designed to operate for 30 years as an open, proposal-driven observatory.
CTAO will cover a broad energy range from 20 GeV to 300 TeV, offering unprecedented sensitivity, improved angular and energy resolution, and a significantly wider field of view. Currently under construction, CTAO is approaching a pivotal milestone: the first intermediate array configurations are expected to deliver data within the next three years. Even at this early stage, these arrays will surpass existing facilities, enabling transformative studies of cosmic accelerators, transient phenomena, and fundamental physics. The early science program will emphasize short-duration events, positioning CTAO as a key player in multi-messenger and multi-wavelength astronomy. This talk will provide a construction update and highlight the scientific potential of the first arrays, showcasing CTAO’s role in unraveling the most extreme phenomena in the Universe and adding a crucial piece to the cosmic puzzle.
02/12/2025
Speaker: Roberta Zanin (CTAO Project Scientist)
Link to the streaming: https://meet.google.com/vjn-anyj-nww