Astrophysics and Astroparticle Physics in the CTA Era

An RAS Specialist Discussion Meeting organised by Paula Chadwick(Durham), Garret Cotter (Oxford)Contact: Paula Chadwick p.m.chadwick@durham.ac.ukGarret Cotter garret.cotter@physics.ox.ac.uk The Cherenkov Telescope Array, CTA, will start construction in 2017. It will consist of 2 arrays of telescopes, one in the southern hemisphere and one in the northern hemisphere, which will observe the sky from a few 10s of GeV to 100s of TeV. CTA will be the first true observatory in this waveband, and as such offers opportunities to apply for observing time to astrophysicists across the world, including the UK. The science remit of CTA is wide, including active galactic nuclei, supernova remnants, pulsars, galaxy clusters, the detection of dark matter, the search for quantum gravitational effects and many other exciting topics. With a sensitivity and angular resolution at least 10 times better than any ground-based gamma-ray observatory before it, we expect CTA to transform our view of the high-energy universe. The aim of this meeting is to explore the possibilities for CTA in both astrophysics and astroparticle physics and to look at areas of overlap with other new facilities such as SKA and LSST. 10:30-11:00 An Introduction to the Cherenkov Telescope Array
Tim Greenshaw, University of Liverpool
11:00-11:30 X-ray Facilities in the CTA Era
Paul O'Brien, University of Leicester
11:30-12:00 The Next Generation of Optical-Infrared Telescopes
Isobel Hook, University of Lancaster
12:00-12:30 Extragalactic Astronomy and Cosmology with the New Radio Facilities
Matt Jarvis, University of Oxford
12:30-13:00 High Energy Cosmic Neutrinos: the Gamma-ray Connection
Subir Sarkar, University of Oxford
13:00-14:00 LUNCH
14:00-14:30 Gravitational wave observations: status and future plans
Sheila Rowan, University of Glasgow
14:30- 15:00 The Direct Search for Dark Matter
Chamkaur Ghag, University College, London
15:00-15:30 Discussion
15:30 TEA