​GÉANT and ORIENTplus – delivering cosmic results by studying gamma rays

The Challenge

Any solar disturbance, for instance, magnetic storms or flares, react with the atmosphere and become ‘cosmic showers’, which may play a role in cloud formation and climate change, and could be responsible for radiation exposure on long-distance, high-altitude flights.  They can also seriously damage sensitive electronics on-board the large number of satellites circling our planet which are responsible for important communications and geo-monitoring.  The challenge is to improve understanding of cosmic radiation, based on data-intensive collaborative research between astrophysicists in China and Italy.

The Solution

Understanding these phenomena is data-intensive work.  Through high speed research networks data is seamlessly transmitted from the ARGO-YBJ telescope facility in Tibet to INFN-CNAF, a dedicated computing centre for high energy physics experiments in Bologna, Italy for analysis.

Key Benefits

The power of the GÉANT and ORIENTplus networks are essential in enabling cutting-edge international scientific collaboration between physicists in a remote Tibetan location and in Italy, providing insights into the mysteries of the universe.

​“International collaboration between scientists is the only way to achieve a project like this and the combination of GÉANT and ORIENTplus makes that a reality for us. We maintain and operate the telescope facility – and all the processing takes place in near-real time thousands of miles away.” Professor Cao Zhen, the Chinese spokesman for ARGO-YBJ

 

​Partners in the project:
​GARR ORIENTplus ARGO-YBJ