Explore active EU‑funded projects at Astrocent, featuring advancements in particle astrophysics, dark‑matter detection, cryogenic systems, photonics, and gravitational‑wave research.
Projects funded by European Union
Funding basis: Contract no. 101137080 – Astrocent Plus
Programme: Horizon Europe – Teaming for Excellence
Financing institution: European Research Executive Agency (REA)
Total budget: 15 M Euro
Duration: 1.01.2025 – 31.12.2030
Date of signing the financing agreement: 04.11.2024
Project description:
The Centre of Excellence AstroCeNT was established in Poland in 2018 under the International Research Agendas programme, co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund, to conduct research in astroparticle physics and explore the hidden universe. The EU-funded Astrocent Plus project will expand and transform AstroCeNT, making it a fully-independent and interdisciplinary entity. The centre will focus on cutting-edge research combining a future-oriented fundamental research programme in astroparticle physics with development of technologies to address global challenges such as climate change, healthcare and sustainable energy. Furthermore, it will become the first autonomous, modern entity in the field of astroparticle physics supported by the Teaming for Excellence programme and the first of its kind in Poland and the Central-Eastern side of Europe.
The prime objective of the project is to uplift the existing Centre of Excellence AstroCeNT by transforming it into a fully independent, interdisciplinary, new legal entity: Astrocent Plus Particle Astrophysics Science and Technology Centre. Astrocent Plus will engage in cutting-edge research and development in astroparticle physics and in related aspects of innovative technology, addressing global challenges, such as healthcare, climate change and sustainable sources of energy. As a fully autonomous entity with a modern professional management and administrative structure, it will be the first scientific institution in astroparticle physics supported by Teaming for Excellence and the first one in the field in Poland. Acting in close cooperation with world-leading consortium partners, Astrocent Plus will be embedded in a network of international collaborations involved in frontier research, probing the invisible Universe through neutrino, cosmic-ray, gravitational-wave and dark matter detection. AstroCeNT and the field have a proven record of medical and commercial applications and after the uplift will bring further high-impact benefits to society and economy. The buildup of internationally-rooted research capacity, gained through strategic partnerships, will position the Centre to achieve a significant, measurable, improvement in research and innovation culture and long-term financial sustainability, in part through commercialisation. The Centre will improve mobility and gender balance, train new cadres of highly-qualified researchers in science and hi-tech industry, promote innovation and cooperation between scientists and industry and help Poland and the EU attain a competitive position in the global value chains. With modern management practices, Astrocent Plus will become the main hub for the rapidly-developing field of particle astrophysics and a role model for Poland and the region for excellence in basic sciences and fruitful cooperation with industry.
Leader: Leszek Roszkowski
STELLAR – Innovative STructures for improvEd Light colLection in ARgon-based TPCs (MSCA)
Funding basis: Contract no. 101154972 – STELLAR
Programme: Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions: Postdoctoral Fellowships
Financing institution: European Research Executive Agency (REA)
Total budget: 139 953.60 EUR
Duration: 27.06.2024 – 26.06.2026
Date of signing the financing agreement: 25.03.2024
Project description: STELLAR (innovative STructures for improvEd Light colLection in ARgon-based TPCs) goal is to boost the advancement of noble gas and liquid optical Time Projection Chamber (TPC) detectors for rare-event searches, with Dark Matter (DM) being one of the most compelling puzzles of todays fundamental physics. STELLAR plans to contribute to the development of novel amplification structures based on Micropattern Gas Detectors (MPGDs) technology incorporating wavelength-shifting materials, capable of providing improved light collection and greater operating stability at higher gains. STELLAR programme can further contribute to the
understanding of underlying mechanisms of signal formation in TPCs, opening the possibility of studying the electron extraction efficiency and electroluminescence in electronegative gas mixtures. This is a specially relevant topic considering the recent technological developments observed in DM searches with the use of Negative Ion TPCs, eventually optically readout. It is anticipated that the floating wavelength-shifting Field-Assisted Gas Electron Multipliers (FAT-GEM) mechanical characteristics and performance, can be a valuable alternative to current amplification structures used in noble-element TPCs for DM searches, for instance DarkSide- LowMass, or currently planned for long baseline neutrino experiment DUNE.
Leader: Andre Filipe Ventura Cortez