This Nordic research course in observational astrophysics will introduce
a new generation of young Nordic and Baltic scientists to the use of front
line observational facilities. The course is financed by The Nordic Academy
for Advanced Study (NORFA).
The course will be held in La Palma, Spain, where the Nordic Optical Telescope (NOT) and the Swedish 1-m Solar Telescope (SST) will allow us to give the participants first hand observational experience with the excellent telescopes available to the community. The course has been awarded six observing nights on the NOT and 4 days of observation on the SST.
We invite 16 new PhD-students and Masters students in their final semester from the Nordic and Baltic countries to La Palma, with the aim of giving them the crucial experience which will allow them to plan an observing programme, apply for observing time in a competitive environment and conduct the observations in a coherent way. The course will last 12 days during the July of 2003 (1-12 July 2003), and will focus on observing in practice, where the students themselves carry out all the relevant steps in the process: planning, observing, reduction, analysis and reporting. Apart from the activities at the telescopes, we will provide day-time lectures on the relevant topics, for example Telescopes and Instrumentation, Data-reduction techniques and World-wide facilities (e.g., ESO and HST).
The goal of the course is to introduce the students to modern observational techniques. The students should have little prior experience of observations with a modern telescope. We hope in this way to introduce a new and enthusiastic generation of Nordic and Baltic observers. However, we would also like to offer this opportunity students who plan to work on more theoretical projects. This may be their only chance to see and understand how observations are obtained. Such an experience is essential for anyone who will use and interpret astronomical data.
We want to prepare the students for the use of observational techniques in an international environment. Working at the telescopes will provide a deepened understanding of observational astronomy. There is simply no substitute for hands-on experience with instrumentation and data. Introduction to data processing will be given. During the lectures we will point out the current developments in observational astrophysics, as well as future directions of this discipline.
Facilities
The Nordic Optical Telescope (NOT)
is a modern 2.56m Alt-Az telescope which has been in operation since 1989.
The excellent seeing conditions make the telescope competitive also in
the era of 8-meter telescopes. NOT is operated in a modern fashion, and
holds modern instrumentation. We plan to use the optical imager and spectrograph
ALFOSC as well as the new infrared camera NOTCAM in the observational projects.
The Swedish
1-m Solar Telescope saw first light in March 2002. It replaced the
Swedish Vacuum Solar Telescope and is with an obstruction free aperture
of 96 cm the largest high-resolution solar telescope in the world. A major
advantage with the SST is that the observational set-up is very transparent.
The light from the telescope is directed to an optical table, where all
the
components can be physically moved around. This is really hands-on observing!
The SST is equipped with adaptive optics, something that will be of great
importance for future telescopes. All students will be given a thorough
demonstration of the solar telescope, and each group will perform a full-day
laboration at this telescope.
Structure of the course
The course will be structured around real observational projects. The students have spent many years in classrooms, and the unique possibilities of this event is clearly the hands-on experience. We plan to provide the students with a number of possible projects which they can choose from. The aim is that the students will plan and perform the observations and then reduce and analyze the data, and finally present the results. All projects will aim at astrophysical results, rather than technical aspects of the instrumentation. The projects will be tutored by the lecturers. Of course, we will keep an eye open for interesting new astronomical phenomena, such as supernovae and gamma ray bursts. Such exciting events can quickly be implemented in the course.
In addition to the practical work we will also offer lectures to the students. The subjects are meant to be of relevance for the different projects. We want to present basic facts about telescopes and instrumentation, as well as on image analysis theory and software. We will also overview the current observational facilities available to the Nordic community, with special emphasis on ESO and on the HST.
To ensure some background knowledge, the students will be given material to read prior to the course. This is to make the time at the mountain maximally efficient. A short exam will be given early in the course, to make sure that the students have understood the material. This exam will also ensure that the course can be given credits within the graduate study programmes in the Nordic countries. We expect this intensive course to give 5 study weeks at the Nordic universities.
Apart from the exam, all students will present their observational project to the rest of the group. At La Palma this will be done in an oral presentation, but the end product will be a fully written scientific report on the observations and their results. The project reports will be published on the web.
The duration of the course will be about 12 days. The first few days
will be devoted to introductionary lectures and project planning. Observations
will then be obtained during the next 6 nights and days, and the last days
will be needed for reduction, analysis and presentation of the projects.
The schedule will have to be flexible, to adjust to the the actual weather
situation. Summertime gives, however, the best chances for clear skies.
The final write-up is expected to take place at the home-institutes. We
will require a thorough report, and this will also enforce some long time
communication between the students.