Research activities

At the OATs a set of technology research activities as well as supporting ones for astrophysical research are presently carried out: from data management to high-performance computing, from science ground segment management of space missions to design and control for ground-based telescopes. The OATs actively participates in the design, construction and installation of state-of-the-art astronomical instrumentation for the major worldwide optical telescopes. After the successful installation of the ESPRESSO instrument in Chile, currently the most precise spectrograph in the field of exoplanetary observations, the OATs now leads the design and construction of new instruments for the major telescopes in the world and and for the new giant telescope of 39 m in diameter now in construction phase. The OATs participates in the Euclid mission, devoted to cosmology research, in scientific research and in the development and management of the software. It proceeds in parallel with the study of the LiteBird ground segment, a space mission dedicated to the study of the cosmic microwave background. This effort follows up the analogous one put in place for the data processing center of the Planck satellite. The OATs hosts part of the PLEIADI, INAF's most powerful supercomputing system, used both for large numerical simulations of the Universe and to provide computing resources for small and medium-sized astronomical projects. Over the years, the OATs has reached a consolidated experience in the development and optimization of algorithms that are used in the major numerical experiments. Moreover, OATs took part in the development of various European supercomputer prototypes. The Italian center for Astronomical Archives (IA2, hosted by OATs) manages and makes available to astronomers and the general public data and images from the main Italian telescopes, alongside services to exploit those data resources.