Italy's INAF and E-ELT Partnership
Italy's National Institute for Astrophysics (INAF) and the European Southern Observatory (ESO) have a longstanding collaboration dating back to 1982. INAF's contributions to ESO include personnel, industrial support, instrument development, and scientific programs. The partnership has led to advancements in optical and infrared astronomy, with Italy playing a significant role in ESO's projects, including the Very Large Telescope (VLT) and the upcoming Extremely Large Telescope (E-ELT). The E-ELT collaboration has entered new phases of design and study, demonstrating Italy's ongoing commitment to cutting-edge astronomical research.
Download Presentation
Please find below an Image/Link to download the presentation.
The content on the website is provided AS IS for your information and personal use only. It may not be sold, licensed, or shared on other websites without obtaining consent from the author.If you encounter any issues during the download, it is possible that the publisher has removed the file from their server.
You are allowed to download the files provided on this website for personal or commercial use, subject to the condition that they are used lawfully. All files are the property of their respective owners.
The content on the website is provided AS IS for your information and personal use only. It may not be sold, licensed, or shared on other websites without obtaining consent from the author.
E N D
Presentation Transcript
INAF and E-ELT Filippo Maria Zerbi DS-USC-II
Italy (INAF) and ESO Italy joined ESO on may 24th1982 as the 8th member of the organization. About 20 years after ESO foundation and about 20 years ahead of INAF formation. In the last decade INAF coordinated the activities of the Italian Astronomical community (staff and associates) In the 30+ years of membership ESO became the central and preferred data source for Italian OPT- IR astronomers.
Italy (later INAF) to ESO Italy Provided ESO with: People (incorporated in the Organization) Fundamental industrial contributions in the construction of telescopes and infrastructures, Development of instrument components and subsystems Science programs and ideas
ESO to Italy (later INAF) ESO provided Italy with: Access to State-of-the-Art OPT-NIR Observing Facilities Stimulating Scientific International Environment Organization in Instrumental project (e.g. standards, project monitoring, etc.) Transfer of know-how (scientific and technological) Industrial growth opportunities
Italy (INAF) in The VLT Italy (before and after INAF) contributed to 1stGeneration UVES GIRAFFE VIMOS 2ndGeneration - X-shooter Sphere 3rdGeneration (introducing cash versus GTO ) - ESPRESSO MOONS ERIS
The E-ELT as seen from INAF Natural evolution of the commitment and interest of the OPT-NIR Italian Astronomical community in ESO. The OPT-NIR Community is the second largest community in INAF (after High-Energy Aphys.) so it has a central role in INAF HQ activities. Renewed Challenges for Italian Industries to which INAF provide support.
INAF and E-ELT early phases Participation to the design studies MAORY (lead) MICADO (minor) CODEX (major) SIMPLE (lead) OPTIMOS (EVE/DIORAMAS) (considerable) EPICS (minor) Seconding People at ESO For the Design Studies
INAF in E-ELT Now Italy (INAF) joined the E-ELT in the December 2012 council (ad referendum then confirmed) Italy (INAF) approved the kick-off of the 2 phases approach in the December 2014 Council The Extraordinary contribution by Italy amounts to 52 M over 10 years Italy has regularly paid the quotas.
Financial Issues (I) Extraordinary contribution for E-ELT The regular contribution of Italy to ESO is handled by MAECI (Min. Foreign Affairs) and is automatic. The E-ELT extraordinary contribution is under the direct responsibility of INAF with money flown by MIUR (Min. of University and Research) This is a contribution about the same size of what INAF foresees to allocate for CTA and SKA (with which E-ELT competes for resources). Pure fee . Non instruments or other voices
Financial Issue (II) Implication of Budget on INAF-MIUR It is not granted by law . We have to fight in every yearly budget to get it. If we are left without money (by our government) we will have to negotiate a bailout. If we are dissolved (as INAF) continued participation is not guaranteed. It is important to keep the appeal of the initiative and the engagement of the community as high as possible.
E-ELT activities support In recent years MIUR introduced the concept of Progetto Premiale . A fraction of the budget of the Italian Research Institutions is retained to form a plafond for specially relevant projects (about 100 M per year). These funds are re-distributed (via calls or other means) in proportion of the scientific ranking of the Institution (ANVUR). INAF is high-ranked and gets an important quota of these funds (about 13 M per year)
Premiali and ESO About 9 M of premiali have been distributed over the last 3 years to ESO related activities About 6 M for E-ELT (T-REX 1 and T-REX 2) About 3 M for ALMA Other premiali with specific scientific targets (e.g. WOW on extrasolar planets) have direct interactions with ESO science programs. Other special assignments have been given by MIUR to INAF to be spent in E-ELT related programmes
INAF and EELT now M4 Mirror INAF part AdOptica in the concluded PDR Contract and in the recently signed contract to construction. MAORY INAF will lead the Consortium to procure MAORY Agreement in final revision Signature expected in fall MICADO Same time-scale of MAORY Italy part of the MICADO Consortium HIRES Recent Request of Information issued Phase A call coming soon (very controversial and not well perceived initiative). INAF leads a (currently the) Consortium answering to the RfI and potentially to the call. MOS Same Considerations as per HIRES INAF part of the answering Consortium
