LST-1 Milestone Achieved with ACADA Software Integration
In September and October 2023, dedicated teams of scientists and engineers made their way to CTAO’s northern facility in La Palma, Spain, to execute critical tests on the ACADA (Array Control and Data Acquisition) system. This system is the backbone of operations for CTAO’s dual telescope arrays situated in La Palma and Chile, marking a pivotal moment after nearly two years of rigorous preparation.
The ACADA system, instrumental for the seamless operation and data management of the observatory’s telescopes, underwent thorough testing to ensure robust bidirectional communication capabilities with the LST-1. These activities included the implementation of remote command functionalities for telescope movement and executing real-time data analysis. Moreover, the system was rigorously evaluated under various unpredictable conditions requiring rapid response coordination between ACADA and the LST-1, which it all passed with flying colours.
The successful testing signifies a crucial milestone in the ACADA development, highlighting the effective collaboration between the ACADA team and the LST Collaboration. This effort has not only proved the system’s readiness but also identified opportunities for further optimizations and enhancements to the LST-1 prototype.
The ACADA team, comprising about 60 individuals from the CTAO and its partner institutions across nine institutes from six countries, showcases the global effort behind this project. Cosylab engineers are proud to support the Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron (DESY) in software development support for the ACADA work package of the CTA observatory that encompasses, among others, central control subsystem, which sends observation instructions to telescopes, and resource manager subsystem, which keeps track of telescopes and computing usage.
This milestone paves the way for deeper insights into the cosmos, bringing us closer to unravelling the mysteries of the universe’s most violent gamma-ray and cosmic-ray birthplaces!