| 2000-11-23 10:39:01 |
CRD Actively Participates in International Collaborations
In October at the Nor-Amberd International Conference Center, the CRD hosted the "MAGIC Triggers and Associated Problems" workshop that was devoted to the discussion of first and second level triggers. MAGIC (Major Atmospheric Gamma Imaging Cherenkov Telescope) is the international scientific collaboration that is constructing the largest Cherenkov Atmospheric telescope in Canary islands. During the workshop, participants from German, Italian, and Spanish collaborating institutions presented the status of the collaboration and theirongoing experiments. Telescope that will be built in 2001 will be able to detect Cosmic Gamma radiation at a very low energy threshold. The CRD team demonstrated the benefits of applying its Neural Network (NN) Toolbox software package to construct the "intelligent" second level trigger for the MAGIC experiment thus allowing the telescope to effectively discern patterns within large amounts of noisy data. The conference participants also visited Aragats High Altitude Cosmic Ray station. Dr. Manfred Fleischer, Deputy Research Director of Deutsches Elektronen Synchrotron (DESY), who visited Nor- Amberd research station in October, discussed status of joint project that will be carried out between CRD and DESY in the framework of INTAS Infrastructure Action program. The joint project is under consideration now and decision on it is expected in December. The Ambassador of Syrian Arab Republic, Dr. Hamed Hasan also visited CRD Aragats stations in October. Headof the CRD, Dr. Ashot Chilingarian introduced him into the High Energy Astrophysics research done at Yerevan Physics Institute. Ambassador pointed on the possibilities of fruitful cooperation between Armenian and Syrian physicists. Since October a number of other distinguished guests have visited both CRD's Yerevan office and the Aragats stations. They all praised the high quality of the research done by the CRD and the operational conditions of CRD
stations and research facilities. CRD's Japanese partners, headed by Prof. Yasushi Muraki from Nagoya University, and the Senior Technology Implementation Manager of the International Science and Technology Center (ISTC) Dr. Motoi Sakamoto inspected neutron monitors and the solar scintillation monitor at CRD's Aragats Solar Environment Center (ASEC). The visitors were impressed with the CRD's solar activity monitoring accomplishments. They discussed achievements in the field of solar-terrestrial effects research and agreed upon further research plans within the framework of a new ISTC-funded project that starts next year. Further praise of the work carried out at the CRD came from the SESAME International Collaboration Interim Council that gathered in Yerevan. UNESC representative Dr. Siegberd Raither, President of the SESAME Interim Council Dr. Hertwig Shopper, Chairman of the SESAME Technical Committee Dr. Gus Adolph Voss, Chairman of the SESAME Scientific Committee Dr. Hermann Winick, SESAME Interim Council members from Palestine and Egypt, Interim Council Meeting observers and experts visited Aragats station on November 8 and
11. Dr. Chilingarian presented the achievements of the CRD in the field of Cosmic Ray Physics and Space Weather Research. He briefed guests about further research plans and CRD's role in International scientific cooperation.