Tweet
ARMENIA-PRODUCED MIRRORS ON LARGEST EVER BUILT CHERENKOV TELESCOPE
By Anahit Sargsyan
http://news.am/eng/news/129795.html
November 26, 2012 | 00:05
YEREVAN.- The largest ever built Cherenkov telescope has 875 hexagonal
mirror facets each of them having a stamp with "Armenia" inscription
on it.
The largest H.E.S.S. II telescope with an area of 600 square meters
started operation in Namibia in September 2012. Together with
other four 12-meter telescopes already in operation since 2004,
the observatory will continue studying cosmic sources. The High
Energy Stereoscopic System (H.E.S.S.) observatory is operated by the
collaboration of scientists from 12 different countries, including
Yerevan Physics Institute.
General view of H.E.S.S.II telescope
Official inauguration of the first H.E.S.S. II telescope was held
on September 28, 2012. The mirror facets for a telescope as tall as
20-storey building were produced by Galaktika CJSC (Garni) which is
a part of physics and astrophysics department at the National Academy
of Sciences of Armenia.
The company has been cooperating with Germany-based Max Planck
Institute for Nuclear Physics since 2002, Galaktika CJSC Director
Ara Mirzoyan told Armenian News-NEWS.am. Armenia won the tender and
was selected as a producer of mirrors for the world's largest H.E.S.S
II telescope.
Opening ceremony in the reflection
Since Cherenkov telescopes are installed without a dome, the
requirements for mirrors are very strict. The product was to be
adopted by Germany and metrology should be carried out in Germany
as well. Therefore, Galaktika has developed a device to measure the
mirror reflectance which has no analogue in the post-Soviet area.
General view of Cherenkov observatory in Namibia
It was rather difficult to find skilled manual workers but they
worked hard to deliver the orders in time. They managed to meet the
requirements and deliver 900 mirrors within specified schedule.
"During the opening ceremony in Namibia it was noted German side is
proud of the team working for the project. It is a great honor and
we are really proud," Mirzoyan said.
Mirror reflectance measuring device designed by Galaktika CJSC
The scientists faced certain difficulties in the course of their work
but the most important is to achieve result.
"We were honored to hear high praise by Werner Hofmann, the Director
of Max Planck Institute," Mirzoyan added.
The first images from H.E.S.S.II were received on July 26 before the
official opening. At the moment the data is being studied and the
project is declared successful.
Mirror polishing
Ara Mirzoyan said each member state paid about 1 million euro for
participation in H.E.S.S. collaboration.
"Under the decision of the Armenian government, Yerevan Physics
Institute produced 200 additional mirrors for Germany as a contribution
to the project. In addition to the Institute, the National Academy
of Sciences is also a full member of H.E.S.S.
collaboration," the scientist explained.
Each mirror has a serial number and 'Armenia' stamp
Mirzoyan and his team plans to continue their efforts and participate
in the next tender invited for a larger project called The Cherenkov
Telescope Array (CTA) which is estimated at 200 million euro. The goal
of the project is to build two observatories with 100 small telescopes.
Each mirror was packed in a separate container for safe transportation
"While producing mirrors for H.E.S.S. project, we increased our
production capacity. We hope to win the next tender as well. We
produced 900 mirrors in nearly two years. To date, nobody in the
world has such a production rate," he added.
Mirzoyan expressed great appreciation to the team members, the
people whose work gives an opportunity to see "Armenia" inscription
on 875 mirrors.
You can see 'Armenia' inscription 875 times on H.E.S.S.II
By Anahit Sargsyan
http://news.am/eng/news/129795.html
November 26, 2012 | 00:05
YEREVAN.- The largest ever built Cherenkov telescope has 875 hexagonal
mirror facets each of them having a stamp with "Armenia" inscription
on it.
The largest H.E.S.S. II telescope with an area of 600 square meters
started operation in Namibia in September 2012. Together with
other four 12-meter telescopes already in operation since 2004,
the observatory will continue studying cosmic sources. The High
Energy Stereoscopic System (H.E.S.S.) observatory is operated by the
collaboration of scientists from 12 different countries, including
Yerevan Physics Institute.
General view of H.E.S.S.II telescope
Official inauguration of the first H.E.S.S. II telescope was held
on September 28, 2012. The mirror facets for a telescope as tall as
20-storey building were produced by Galaktika CJSC (Garni) which is
a part of physics and astrophysics department at the National Academy
of Sciences of Armenia.
The company has been cooperating with Germany-based Max Planck
Institute for Nuclear Physics since 2002, Galaktika CJSC Director
Ara Mirzoyan told Armenian News-NEWS.am. Armenia won the tender and
was selected as a producer of mirrors for the world's largest H.E.S.S
II telescope.
Opening ceremony in the reflection
Since Cherenkov telescopes are installed without a dome, the
requirements for mirrors are very strict. The product was to be
adopted by Germany and metrology should be carried out in Germany
as well. Therefore, Galaktika has developed a device to measure the
mirror reflectance which has no analogue in the post-Soviet area.
General view of Cherenkov observatory in Namibia
It was rather difficult to find skilled manual workers but they
worked hard to deliver the orders in time. They managed to meet the
requirements and deliver 900 mirrors within specified schedule.
"During the opening ceremony in Namibia it was noted German side is
proud of the team working for the project. It is a great honor and
we are really proud," Mirzoyan said.
Mirror reflectance measuring device designed by Galaktika CJSC
The scientists faced certain difficulties in the course of their work
but the most important is to achieve result.
"We were honored to hear high praise by Werner Hofmann, the Director
of Max Planck Institute," Mirzoyan added.
The first images from H.E.S.S.II were received on July 26 before the
official opening. At the moment the data is being studied and the
project is declared successful.
Mirror polishing
Ara Mirzoyan said each member state paid about 1 million euro for
participation in H.E.S.S. collaboration.
"Under the decision of the Armenian government, Yerevan Physics
Institute produced 200 additional mirrors for Germany as a contribution
to the project. In addition to the Institute, the National Academy
of Sciences is also a full member of H.E.S.S.
collaboration," the scientist explained.
Each mirror has a serial number and 'Armenia' stamp
Mirzoyan and his team plans to continue their efforts and participate
in the next tender invited for a larger project called The Cherenkov
Telescope Array (CTA) which is estimated at 200 million euro. The goal
of the project is to build two observatories with 100 small telescopes.
Each mirror was packed in a separate container for safe transportation
"While producing mirrors for H.E.S.S. project, we increased our
production capacity. We hope to win the next tender as well. We
produced 900 mirrors in nearly two years. To date, nobody in the
world has such a production rate," he added.
Mirzoyan expressed great appreciation to the team members, the
people whose work gives an opportunity to see "Armenia" inscription
on 875 mirrors.
You can see 'Armenia' inscription 875 times on H.E.S.S.II