Elisabete Maria de Gouveia Dal Pino.

The Southern Wide-field Gamma-ray Observatory (SWGO) is poised to become a key facility for ground-based gamma-ray astronomy in the Southern Hemisphere. Its wide field of view and high duty cycle will complement the capabilities of the Cherenkov Telescope Array Observatory (CTAO), the next-generation gamma-ray observatory currently under construction. This synergy will enable continuous monitoring of transient phenomena and extended sky coverage, strengthening the global gamma-ray observatory network. This proposal aims to investigate innovative double-layer Water Cherenkov Detector (WCD) configurations for SWGO, focusing on practical, scalable, and cost-effective solutions. Specifically, we will explore two main design strategies for a double-layer tank solution: (i) double-layer rotomolded polyethylene tank with an integrated internal reflective wall, and (ii) a single-chamber rotomolded polyethylene tank where a flexible internal bladder is used as separator for implementation of the double-layer solution. These configurations are expected to improve light collection efficiency, enhance background discrimination, and offer advantages in manufacturing and transport, as well as deployment in remote high-altitude locations in comparison to corrugated-sheet metal tank solutions. The proposed study will include detailed simulations of optical performance, assessments of mechanical feasibility, and cost-benefit analyses. The outcomes will directly contribute to the ongoing detector RD for SWGO and help guide design decisions for its large-scale implementation, while reinforcing technical and scientific alignment with CTAO.

The visible matter in the Universe is predominantly in a plasma state, i.e., it is composed of magnetized and ionized or partially ionized gas. The High Energy and Plasma Astrophysics group (GAPAE) led E. M. de Gouveia Dal Pino at IAG-USP, having as partners A. B. M. Valio of the Centro de Radioastronomia e Astrofísica da Universidade Mackenzie (CRAAM), and Diego Falceta Gonçalves of EACH-USP, has been exploring, for more than two decades, fundamental plasmas and high energy processes in astrophysical sources, using theoretical and numerical magneto-hydrodynamics (MHD) fluid description, as well as observational tools. These fundamental processes encompass particle acceleration, turbulence, magnetic reconnection, MHD shocks, instabilities, origin and amplification of cosmic magnetic fields, and non-thermal emission, applied to vast astrophysical framework from compact objects to clusters of galaxies. Such studies demand high performance computation (HPC) and continuous development of new numerical techniques and sophisticated multidimensional codes, which in turn have required continuous upgrade of our computational resources. These studies also drove our group into the Cherenkov Telescope Array (CTA) Project, an international collaboration (involving 31 countries) aiming at the construction of the worlds largest ground-based gamma-ray observatory, covering the full sky with a northern array located at La Palma (Spain) and a southern array at Paranal (Chile). CTA will provide major advances to astrophysics, cosmology, and astroparticle physics, on the investigation of cosmic ray accelerators, cosmic magnetic fields, the physics of compact objects, and the origin of dark matter, all topics closely connected with our research. Our main contribution to this Project has been the development and construction of the ASTRI (Astrofisica con Specchi a Tecnologia Replicante Italiana) MINI-ARRAY, in partnership with the Italian team of CTA. This is a CTA PRECURSOR composed of nine telescopes, that will be soon installed in the Canarian Islands, with operation expected to start around 2023. This thematic proposal aims to request funding to continue to support the CTA, the ASTRI Mini-Array, and our research activities. It is nestled in a broader international effort to build the CTA, now in its construction phase. CTA will have telescopes of three distinct sizes, the Large, Medium, and Small size telescopes (LST, MST, and SST, respectively), and the ASTRI telescope is the SST prototype that has been chosen (out of two other prototypes) to be the SST structure of the CTA, putting theASTRI team as protagonist of the next steps of the Project development. The production of 40 to 50 SSTs telescopes is foreseen in the first phase of CTA construction, and we here request funding to manufacture in Brazil 3 of such SST structures at this stage, with the technology that we helped to develop. Furthermore, in view of our extensive numerical studies, we also request funding for an upgrade of our computational facilities. This project extends the work already supported by FAPESP in previous thematic projects (97/13084-3, 2006/50654-3, and particularly 13/10559-5). Our participation in the next steps of the CTA construction, will ensure to the Brazilian members a solid involvement and leadership in the SST Consortium. CTA is recognized among the three more important Astronomy Projects in Brazil and in the SPANET (São Paulo Astronomy Network). Furthermore, the upgrade of our computational facilities will make possible the continuation of the extensive numerical studies that we are performing with our graduate and under-graduate students, postdocs and several collaborators worldwide. The overall activities include the construction of the structures for CTA, participation in Science development, and data analyses both for the ASTRI and CTA

The High Energy and Plasma Astrophysics group of E. M. de Gouveia Dal Pino of the Instituto de Astronomia, Geologia e Ciências Atmosféricas da Universidade de São Paulo (IAG-USP), A. B. M. Valio of the Centro de Radioastronomia e Astrofísica da Universidade Mackenzie (CRAAM), and Diego Falceta Goncalves of EACH-USP, have been developing for more than a decade several correlated projects using theoretical and numerical magneto-hydrodynamics (MHD) fluid description, as well as observational tools, to investigate astrophysical plasmas and high energy phenomena. In the recent years, our group has been also involved in the Cherenkov Telescope Array (CTA) Project, an international collaboration (involving 26 countries) aiming the construction of a new generation of ground-based gamma-ray telescopes, until around 2025. CTA will provide the deepest ever insight into the non-thermal, high-energy universe and allow significant contributions to cosmology, astroparticle physics and, in particular, to cosmic ray accelerators, cosmic magnetic fields and gamma-ray burst (GRB) investigation. In this proposal we got funding from FAPESP to support the construction of 3 Cherenkov telescopes to complete the ASTRI-CTA Mini-Array, in partnership with INAF- Italy and South-Africa. This Mini-Array of 7 telescopes will be the precursor and the core of the full CTA. The participation in the Mini-Array construction will ensure to the Brazilian members a solid involvement with the CTA Besides, in view of the extensive number of related projects being developed by our group, we also obtained funding to upgrade our computational facilities with a clustar of over 700 cores. (Thematic Project FAPESP 2013/10559-5). Total amount including institutional technical reserve: 15.6 Million-Reais.

No âmbito do Projeto Temático FAPESP 13/10559-5 coordenado por Elisabete Maria de Gouveia Dal Pino, o grupo GAPAE (Grupo de Astrofísica de Plasmas e Altas Energias) do IAG-USP co-lidera, em associação com o INAF (Italian National Institute for Astrophysics, Itália) e a North-West University (South Africa), a construção do telescópio ASTRI (Astrofisica con Specchi a Tecnologia Replicante Italiana), protótipo dos small size telescopes (SSTs) do CTA, e de um MINI-ARRAY de 9 telescópios ASTRI. O MINI-ARRAY será um precursor do CTA a ser instalado no Observatorio del Teide, em Tenerife (Ilhas Canárias, Espanha), com início de operação em 2022, bem antes do CTA. O GAPAE do IAG-USP está financiando três das nove estruturas do MINI-ARRAY (através do Projeto Temático acima); A África do Sul financia parte de uma das estruturas; e a Itália os telescópios restantes do array. O valor total obtido da FAPESP para este projeto temático foi de 12.200.000,00 reais (quase 4 MUSD à época da concessão). O telescópio ASTRI possui espelho duplo (2M), sendo que o primário possui 4 m de diâmetro. É equipado com uma câmera com fotomultiplicadoras de silício. O ASTRI Mini-Array irá alcançar energias de vários 100 TeV com uma resolução angular de alguns arcmin, uma resolução de energia de cerca de 10-15, e largo campo de visão (> 9 graus). Como operará antes do CTA, será instrumento chave para realizar pesquisa inovadora de fontes de raios-gama extremos acima de 100 TeV (os pevatrons), em nossa Galáxia e fora dela. O Telescópio ASTRI foi recentemente escolhido entre 2 outros protótipos, para ser a estrutura de todos os SSTs do CTA (serão ao todo 70 no CTA-Sul), e a equipe do IAG-USP e o Brasil deverão ser pioneiros na construção dos SSTs para o CTA. Ainda em análise, prevê-se a manufatura no Brasil de pelo menos 10 dessas estruturas na primeira fase de construção do CTA-Sul no Chile.

This involves E.M. de Gouveia Dal Pino and Laerte Sodre Jr.?s groups (both PIs for IAG-USP) and James Stone?s and Michael Strauss? groups from Princeton University side. This project, just approved among several proposals sent by several institutions from both universities, aims the building of three-dimensional maps of the Universe through galaxy surveys and studies of turbulence and magnetic fields, while strengthening the existing collaborations and increase the visibility of our institutions, including students and post-docs in a vigorous program of visits and workshops.

Joint Proposal FAPESP-HEBREW University of Jerusalem (HUJ) (process: 2011/51275-4): Supersonic jets are ubiquitous in the Universe as they are associated to a wide variety of astrophysical 
objects - from young stars to gamma-ray-bursts (GRBs). In particular, GRBs are the most energetic and probably 
most mysterious phenomena in the cosmos and in this joint Proposal with Prof. T. Piran of HUJ, one of the most 
prominent experts in the world in GRBs theory, we aim to investigate several aspects of the physics of the 
ultrarelativistic jets associated to GRBs. In this context, we plan to study: magnetic field reconnection, magnetic 
turbulence, MHD dynamics of jets, and particle acceleration by collisionless magnetized shocks and by magnetic 
reconnection within the relativistic regime. This project will maximize the synergy between the two groups. The 
research will involve both analytic techniques and numerical simulations. It will also involve analysis of astronomical 
satellite data concerning GRBs and the possibility to make theoretical predictions for the coming CTA (Cherenkov 
Telescope Array) gamma-ray observatory.

Thsi project approved by FAPESP (Thematic Project) is a Brazilian-Argentinean Collaboration aiming at the Installation of an ALMA-like antenna in the Argentinean Andes in order to do millimetric and sub-millimetric observations and also very long baseline interferometic (VLBI) observations combining with ALMA which will allow an increase in sensitivity with regard to the latter of a factor around 10.i

CTA is an international collaboration involving 24 countries which intends to construct a new generation of ground based gamma ray telescopes to investigate astrophysical compact sources, the origin of dark matter, and cosmic rays and cosmic magnetism, among other subjects of astrophysical interest. The plan is to build hundreds of telescopes in three different configurations in order to detect gamma rays with energies between 10 GeV and 100 TeV. The CTA experiment, which will have 10 times more sensitivity than any currently operating gamma ray telescope, is presently at the study phase and choice of sites. Among these Argentina is a strong candidate to host the CTA branch in the south hemisphere. The prototype phase should start in the middle of the next year and the construction should begin in 2013. Recently, a Brazilian group of scientists has been invited as member of CTA (member of the Brazilian board) .

O projeto enquadra-se no Programa Equipamentos Multiusuários da FAPESP e destina-se à aquisição de um super-cluster para o Departamento de Astronomia e também para o Núcleo de Astrfíscia da UnicSul destinado sobretudo à realização de modelagem numérica de fontes e meios astrofísicos (coordenação: Elisabete de Gouveia Dal Pino; FAPESP 2009/54006-4).

Installation of 1 antenna for millimeter and sub-millimeter wavelengths in NS Argentinian Desert at high altitueds for use in single or in VLBI experiments with ALMA. This millimeter/sub-millimeter radiotelescope, at high altitude in the NW desert ofArgentina will be used for research in every field area of astronomy, i.e., for studiesof the solar system, stellar evolution, interstellar media, extragalactic astronomy. Aspart of an interferometer associated with ALMA, it will reach the highest angularresolution in Astronomy, of the order of 1 milli-arc-second at 1 millimeterwavelengths.

The PLANCK SATELLITE launched in 2008 was designed to make precision measurements of the cosmic background radiation. A
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Brazilian-French observational/theoretical collaboration under an USP-COFECUB agreement. The main goal of the proposal is to combine measurements from the southern hemisphere survey of the ISM optical/near-IR polarization of the Galaxy which is being undertaken by IAG-USP with polarized emission data that will be obtained at sub-millimetric wavelengths by the Planck satellite of the European Space Agency (ESA) launched in April 2009, and by the PILOT experiment to be launched on board of a stratospheric balloon by the French team 2010 (CESR, Toulouse).

Projeto Tematico FAPESP (n. proc. 2006/50654-3)

Brazilian-French observational/theoretical collaboration under an USP-COFECUB agreement. The French team is composed by Drs. Jean-Philippe Bernard, Martin Giard and Isabelle Ristorcelli of CESR, and Nicolas Ponthieu of the Institut d?Astrophysique Spatiale, Un. Paris-Sud, as well as by the post-docs and Jonathan Aumont of CESR and the PhD student Yingjie Peng CESR. The Brazilian team is composed by Profs. Antonio Mario Magalhães (PI) and Elisabete M. de Gouveia Dal Pino (PI) of IAG-USP, Diego Falceta-Goncalves (UnicSul), and Thyrso Villela (INPE); the post-docs Grzegorz Kowal (IAG-USP), Frederick Poidevin (IAG-USP), and Antonio Pereyra (ON); and the PhD students Lívia S. C. A. Ferreira, Márcia M. R. Leão, and Reinaldo Santos-Lima of IAG-USP.
The main goal of the proposal is to combine measurements from the southern hemisphere survey of the ISM optical/near-IR polarization of the Galaxy which is being undertaken by IAG-USP with polarized emission data that will be obtained at sub-millimetric wavelengths by the PLANCK satellite of the European Space Agency (ESA) launched in the current year, and by the PILOT experiment to be launched on board of a stratospheric balloon by the French team (CESR, Toulouse).