site_press_release
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| - | ======SWGO SITE PRESS RELEASE ====== | + | ======SWGO SITE SELECTION ====== |
| + | //August 12th, 2024// | ||
| - | **At a meeting at the Brazilian Center for Physics Research (CBPF), in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, scientists of the SWGO Project, whose goal is to observe the sources of very-high-energy gamma rays in the Universe, announced that the {{https://astronomicalpark.cl | Atacama Astronomical Park?nolink& }} in Chile was selected as the site of the observatory.** | + | **At a meeting at the Brazilian Center for Physics Research (CBPF), in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, scientists of the SWGO Project, whose goal is to observe the sources of very-high-energy gamma rays in the Universe, announced that the [[https://astronomicalpark.cl | Atacama Astronomical Park]] in Chile was selected as the site of the observatory.** |
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| - | On 31 July 2024, the {{https://www.swgo.org|Southern Wide-field Gamma-ray Observatory}} (SWGO) Steering Committee chose to start detailed negotiations for hosting SWGO in Chile. | + | On 31 July 2024, the [[https://www.swgo.org|Southern Wide-field Gamma-ray Observatory]] (SWGO) Steering Committee chose to start detailed negotiations for hosting SWGO in Chile. |
| The SWGO project is an initiative to build the next-generation wide-field ground-based observatory designed for the detection of very-high- to ultra-high-energy gamma rays. The SWGO will consist of an array of specially designed water tanks equipped with the most advanced technology to detect particles originating from the interaction of the highest-energy photon radiation from space with the Earth’s atmosphere. | The SWGO project is an initiative to build the next-generation wide-field ground-based observatory designed for the detection of very-high- to ultra-high-energy gamma rays. The SWGO will consist of an array of specially designed water tanks equipped with the most advanced technology to detect particles originating from the interaction of the highest-energy photon radiation from space with the Earth’s atmosphere. | ||
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| The SWGO Steering Committee is composed of representatives of the member countries Argentina, Brazil, Chile, China, Croatia, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Italy, Mexico, Peru, Portugal, South Korea, United Kingdom, and the United States. After over three years of careful considerations and extensive studies of various candidate sites in Argentina, Chile, and Peru, covering the environmental and cultural conditions, as well as simulations of the science performance and assessment of construction and operations costs and risks, the Steering Committee has decided to start negotiations with Chile for the hosting of the Observatory. | The SWGO Steering Committee is composed of representatives of the member countries Argentina, Brazil, Chile, China, Croatia, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Italy, Mexico, Peru, Portugal, South Korea, United Kingdom, and the United States. After over three years of careful considerations and extensive studies of various candidate sites in Argentina, Chile, and Peru, covering the environmental and cultural conditions, as well as simulations of the science performance and assessment of construction and operations costs and risks, the Steering Committee has decided to start negotiations with Chile for the hosting of the Observatory. | ||
| - | The SWGO site will be located in Pampa La Bola, at the {{https://astronomicalpark.cl|Atacama Astronomical Park}}, which administers a 360 km2 land concession to the Chilean National Agency for Research and Development, near the town of San Pedro de Atacama, in the Antofagasta Region. Placed on an extensive plateau at the top of the Andes, at an altitude of 4,770 meters, the site vicinities are home to a number of astronomical observatories and facilities, among which is the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA). This location offers excellent long-term operation conditions for the SWGO. | + | The SWGO site will be located in Pampa La Bola, at the [[https://astronomicalpark.cl|Atacama Astronomical Park]], which administers a 360 km2 land concession to the Chilean National Agency for Research and Development, near the town of San Pedro de Atacama, in the Antofagasta Region. Placed on an extensive plateau at the top of the Andes, at an altitude of 4,770 meters, the site vicinities are home to a number of astronomical observatories and facilities, among which is the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA). This location offers excellent long-term operation conditions for the SWGO. |
| Jim Hinton, Spokesperson for the SWGO, who presided over the site choice, says “we had three fantastic sites on our shortlist, and this was a very difficult choice. It represents a big step forward for the collaboration. I am deeply grateful to the representatives of, and authorities in, the candidate host countries, for the huge efforts made on our behalf.” | Jim Hinton, Spokesperson for the SWGO, who presided over the site choice, says “we had three fantastic sites on our shortlist, and this was a very difficult choice. It represents a big step forward for the collaboration. I am deeply grateful to the representatives of, and authorities in, the candidate host countries, for the huge efforts made on our behalf.” | ||
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| SWGO will be studying gamma rays from outer space which are emitted by the most violent and powerful objects and phenomena in the Universe, such as black holes and neutron stars, gamma-ray bursts, and supernovae. Although this type of radiation does not make it to the Earth’s surface, the SWGO detectors will capture the secondary particles produced when gamma rays interact with the Earth’s atmosphere. When entering the water tanks comprising the SWGO array, these secondary particles produce a characteristic blue Cherenkov radiation due to their interaction with water, which in turn is detected by photo sensors installed inside the tanks. By registering these cascades of secondary particles with many detector units simultaneously, each individual gamma ray can be traced back to its cosmic source, allowing us to create a map of the sky. SWGO will give a unique view of the wide Southern hemisphere sky in these very-high-energy gamma-rays, complementing other very-high-energy observatories including the High Altitude Water Cherenkov (HAWC) Observatory, the Cherenkov Telescope Array (CTA), and the Large High Altitude Air Shower Observatory (LHAASO). | SWGO will be studying gamma rays from outer space which are emitted by the most violent and powerful objects and phenomena in the Universe, such as black holes and neutron stars, gamma-ray bursts, and supernovae. Although this type of radiation does not make it to the Earth’s surface, the SWGO detectors will capture the secondary particles produced when gamma rays interact with the Earth’s atmosphere. When entering the water tanks comprising the SWGO array, these secondary particles produce a characteristic blue Cherenkov radiation due to their interaction with water, which in turn is detected by photo sensors installed inside the tanks. By registering these cascades of secondary particles with many detector units simultaneously, each individual gamma ray can be traced back to its cosmic source, allowing us to create a map of the sky. SWGO will give a unique view of the wide Southern hemisphere sky in these very-high-energy gamma-rays, complementing other very-high-energy observatories including the High Altitude Water Cherenkov (HAWC) Observatory, the Cherenkov Telescope Array (CTA), and the Large High Altitude Air Shower Observatory (LHAASO). | ||
| - | The selection of the SWGO site was performed as a major milestone of the research and development phase of the project, with the Atacama Astronomical Park in Chile chosen as the primary site for SWGO planning and negotiations, and Imata, in Peru, selected as the alternative site. More than 200 scientists from over 90 {{https://www.swgo.org/SWGOWiki/doku.php?id=collaboration | research institutions}} participate in the SWGO collaboration and contributed to the site selection milestone. The project will seek an open data policy to the benefit of a wider astrophysics community. | + | The selection of the SWGO site was performed as a major milestone of the research and development phase of the project, with the Atacama Astronomical Park in Chile chosen as the primary site for SWGO planning and negotiations, and Imata, in Peru, selected as the alternative site. More than 200 scientists from over 90 [[https://www.swgo.org/SWGOWiki/doku.php?id=collaboration | research institutions]] participate in the SWGO collaboration and contributed to the site selection milestone. The project will seek an open data policy to the benefit of a wider astrophysics community. |
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| + | Press contact: swgo_spokespersons@swgo.org | ||
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| {{ :wiki:swgo_imagesmain_rw.png?nolink& }} | {{ :wiki:swgo_imagesmain_rw.png?nolink& }} | ||
| - | Artistic conception of the SWGO array, showing a detailed view of the individual water Cherenkov detectors. Image Credits: Richard White, MPIK. | + | //Artistic conception of the SWGO array, showing a detailed view of the individual water Cherenkov detectors. Image Credits: Richard White, MPIK.// |
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| - | {{:wiki:swgo_atacama.png?nolink&}} | + | {{:wiki:swgo_atacama.png}} |
| - | View of the Pampa La Bola site chosen to host SWGO. The site is located within the Atacama Astronomical Park in the Antofagasta Region, Chile, at 4,770 m altitude. Image Credits: Cesar Ocampo, AAP. | + | //View of the Pampa La Bola site chosen to host SWGO. The site is located within the Atacama Astronomical Park in the Antofagasta Region, Chile, at 4,770 m altitude. Image Credits: Cesar Ocampo, AAP.// |
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site_press_release.1723243793.txt.gz · Last modified: 2024/08/10 00:49 by humbertomh
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