KEYWORDS: Software development, Telescopes, Data modeling, Computer architecture, Control systems, Atmospheric Cherenkov telescopes, Data acquisition, Data archive systems, Design, Cameras
The Astrophysics with Italian Replicating Technology Mirrors (ASTRI) Mini-Array is an international collaboration led by the Italian National Institute for Astrophysics (INAF) and devoted to imaging atmospheric Cherenkov light for very-high γ-ray astrophysics, detection of cosmic-rays, and stellar Hambury-Brown intensity interferometry. The project is deploying an array of nine dual-mirror aplanatic imaging atmospheric Cherenkov telescopes of 4-m class at the Teide Observatory on Tenerife in the Canary Islands. Based on SiPM sensors, the focal plane camera covers an unprecedented field of view of 10.5 deg in diameter. The array is most sensitive to γ-ray radiation above 1 up to 200 TeV, with an angular resolution of 3 arcmin, better than the current particle arrays, such as LHAASO and HAWC. We describe the overall software architecture of the ASTRI Mini-Array and the software engineering approach for its development. The software covers the entire life cycle of the Mini-Array, from scheduling to remote operations, data acquisition, and processing until data dissemination. The on-site control software allows remote array operations from different locations, including automated reactions to critical conditions. All data are collected every night, and the array trigger is managed post facto. The high-speed networking connection between the observatory site and the Data Center in Rome allows for ready data availability for stereoscopic event reconstruction, data processing, and almost real-time science products generation.
KEYWORDS: Data modeling, Atmospheric Cherenkov telescopes, Control systems, Software development, Telescopes, Data processing, Data archive systems, Data acquisition, Calibration, Computer architecture
The ASTRI Mini-Array is an international collaboration led by the Italian National Institute for Astrophysics (INAF) and devoted to the imaging of atmospheric Cherenkov light for very-high gamma-ray astronomy. The project is deploying an array of 9 telescopes sensitive above 1 TeV. In this contribution, we present the architecture of the software that covers the entire life cycle of the observatory, from scheduling to remote operations and data dissemination. The high-speed networking connection available between the observatory site, at the Canary Islands, and the Data Center in Rome allows for ready data availability for stereo triggering and data processing.
The ASTRI Mini-Array is an International collaboration, led by the Italian National Institute for Astrophysics, that is constructing and operating an array of nine Imaging Atmospheric Cherenkov Telescopes to study gamma-ray sources at very high energy and perform optical stellar intensity interferometry (SII) observations. Angular resolutions below 100 microarcsec are achievable with stellar intensity interferometry, using telescopes separated by hundreds to thousands of meters baselines. At this level of resolution it turns out to be possible to reveal details on the surface and of the environment surrounding bright stars on the sky. The ASTRI Mini-Array will provide a suitable infrastructure for performing these measurements thanks to the capabilities offered by its 9 telescopes, which provide 36 simultaneous baselines over distances between 100 m and 700 m. After providing an overview of the scientific context and motivations for performing SII science with the ASTRI Mini-Array telescopes, we present the baseline design for the ASTRI Stellar Intensity Interferometry Instrument, a fast single photon counting instrument that will be mounted on the ASTRI telescopes and dedicated to performing SII observations of bright stars.
The ASTRI Mini-Array is a gamma-ray experiment led by INAF with the partnership of the Instituto de Astrofisica de Canarias, Fundacion Galileo Galilei, University of Sao Paulo, North-West University S.A., and Observatoire de Geneve. It is being implemented at the Observatorio del Teide Tenerife. The nine (9) Cherenkov dual-mirror aplanatic telescopes of 4 m diameter are positioned at an average distance from each other of 160 m. Thanks to the unprecedented field-of-view (10.5 deg) of the ASTRI telescopes, the MA will allow us to observe the gamma-ray sky from a few up to a few hundred TeVs with competitive flux sensitivity and enhanced angular resolution. The curved focal plane of the camera is covered with SiPM sensors and is equipped with fast front-end electronics. The control SW will allow us to operate the Mini-array remotely, while a dedicated off-site Data Center in Italy will process the scientific products every night. The ASTRI Mini-Array represents a pivotal instrument to perform groundbreaking measurements very soon. In this paper, we will review the implementation plan of the ASTRI Mini-Array and report on the ongoing construction.
The ASTRI Mini-Array is a project of the Italian National Institute for Astrophysics (INAF) to construct and operate an observatory to study astronomical sources emitting in the TeV spectral band. The ASTRI Mini-Array is under construction and consists of an array of nine innovative Imaging Atmospheric Cherenkov Telescopes located at the Teide Astronomical Observatory, operated by the Instituto de Astrofisica de Canarias, on Mount Teide (~2400 m a.s.l.) in Tenerife (Canary Islands, Spain). In the project framework, we have implemented a Product Assurance (PA) programme, which defines the strategy and the organization for the management of the quality control. It defines the applicable quality requirements for design, procurement, AIT, and verification, and the guidelines to manage the acceptance of the deliverable items provided by the external suppliers. In the case of HW items, the PA programme provides requirements regarding the monitoring of manufacturing process and qualification activities, as well as the item identification, inspection and storage. For SW components, we have provided a dedicated Quality Assurance plan, and detailed guidelines to drive the whole software development life cycle. We paid particular attention to the management of non-conformances and requests for deviations/waivers, since these are very critical in the case of external industrial partners. In this work we present the layout and contents of the ASTRI Mini-Array PA programme, describing the organization adopted within ASTRI for its management and reporting some examples of how it has been applied up to now.
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