Latest news with #VTT
Time of India
an hour ago
- Science
- Time of India
Scientists reveal the sharpest-ever images of the sun's surface
We can't gaze closely in the direction of the sun, can we? Well, we could just now with this innovation. Courtesy of this breakthrough new camera devised at the Vacuum Tower Telescope in Tenerife. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now In a breakthrough in solar astronomy, astronomers have achieved a historic feat by taking the most precise images ever of the Sun. This has been made possible through the pairing of a highly advanced new camera system with the Vacuum Tower Telescope (VTT) at the Teide Observatory on the Spanish island of Tenerife. The Vacuum Tower Telescope has been in use since 1988 and is famous for its significant discoveries in solar physics. But this technological upgrade has tremendously expanded its reach. The state-of-the-art camera system can take 100 rapid, short-exposure images at 25 frames per second. All of them have a resolution of 8,000 by 6,000 pixels, far beyond what any of the modern ground-based solar telescopes can manage. Unprecedented image detail These short exposure photos are not just issues of speed and breadth; they are subsequently processed using impeccable image restoration techniques in order to reduce distortions caused by Earth's atmosphere. The result is a single ultra-high-resolution image that is able to capture details on the surface of the Sun as little as 100 kilometers in size, a resolution level that allows scientists to peer deep into the inner mechanisms of solar activity as never before. Perhaps the most stunning aspect of this achievement is the extent of coverage. The VTT's new apparatus allows it to image a region about 200,000 kilometers across — about one-seventh of the Sun's full diameter. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now This is a significant increase from previous equipment, which was limited to observing areas only about 75,000 kilometers across. This increased field of view offers a better understanding of how small details such as sunspots function within the greater structure of the Sun. They were obtained in the G-band wavelength, which is ideally suited to observe the fine structure of the solar photosphere. In the newly released photos, researchers have seen distorted penumbral filaments within sunspots — indicators of complex magnetic activity that typically predict the potential for solar flares. The G-band photos also enable one to see how sunspots are structured within broader convection cells called supergranules, illuminating more about the dynamic processes of the Sun. Real-time monitoring of solar activity Even more thrilling about this advancement is its capacity to monitor these changes in the Sun's surface in real time. With updates as frequently as every 20 seconds, researchers can now monitor the rapidly changing magnetic fields and plasma flows on the Sun's surface. This is a vital leap forward in studying space weather phenomena, which can impact satellite communications, GPS, and even power grids on our planet. The advent of this state-of-the-art imaging system is a revolutionary point in the study of the sun. It not only makes us more efficient in the study of the sun and its finer aspects but also makes us capable of predicting solar activity in many ways. The world is evolving, and so is our technology. Devices like these are crucial in unearthing hidden secrets and more
The Citizen
3 days ago
- Automotive
- The Citizen
CPF gets a boost to fight crime
THREE entities have come together to fight crime in Pinetown. On Saturday, May 10, the Pinetown CPF, Blue Security and Tracker SA launched their partnership vehicles that will help fight the increasing rate of hijacking in the Pinetown precinct. CPF chairman Justin Bosse said last year the provincial government donated vehicles to all the CPFs. 'Well, a lot of them. We were told that we must use the vehicles to attend to meetings and assist with community support. Maintenance would obviously be at our cost,' explained Bosse. 'Although the provincial government does give us a small amount of petrol allowance every month, we have had to seek sponsorship and Blue Security came on board. They informed us that they would be willing to sponsor a petrol allowance every month towards the vehicle and we would put their branding on the vehicle as well. It then got a little bit bigger. We became very active in the community.' From there, the CPF approached Tracker as they are affiliated with the SAPS. 'Tracker also agreed to come on board. This is first in the country for corporate companies to join forces with the CPF.' Bosse revealed that a tracker has been installed in the vehicles which will help track stolen and hijacked motor vehicles. Edsandis Munusamy from Tracker SA said this initiative marks a significant step forward in community-centred crime prevention, aligning with Tracker's value – Caring for people and their things. As part of the partnership, Munusamy said CPF members received specialised training on vehicle tracking technology (VTT), equipping them with essential knowledge to support law enforcement in the fight against vehicle crime in the Pinetown precinct. Also read: Metro police investigate 'informal taxi rank' on Dumbarton Road 'This training enhances their ability to act swiftly and in co-ordination with law enforcement agencies during recoveries and vehicle-related investigations. We see this as more than just a partnership. It's a long-term investment in the safety of our communities,' said Munusamy. Blue Security community manager Brett Beket said community safety is at the heart of everything they do. 'This joint initiative aligns perfectly with our mission to build safer communities where families can thrive. Collaborating with both formal and informal groups, such as the Pinetown CPF, is integral to our operations. 'As industry leaders in community safety, we have a dedicated team focused solely on this mission. We are proud to support the Pinetown CPF and encourage other organisations to get involved and help make a positive impact.' Pinetown CPF deputy chairperson Lynn Robson said New Germany, Kloof, Wyebank, Pinetown South, Motala Heights, Nazareth and Pinetown Central make up the Pinetown CPF sub forums and they take pride in protecting their communities. 'This could not have been achieved without forging and nurturing strong relationships with our partners in crime and we look forward to strengthening these with this new partnership with Blue Security and Tracker.' Robson also thanked the Department of Community Safety Liaison for their continued support and guidance. Welcoming this partnership was also Pinetown SAPS station commander, Brigadier Leon Matthysen, who emphasised that the multifaceted collaboration between SAPS, Tracker SA, Blue Security, and the CPF demonstrates the commitment to tackling crime head-on. 'This joint effort sends a strong message that we mean business in bringing crime down. Specifically, on carjacking, the Tracker-fitted vehicle will significantly enhance our ability to track and recover stolen vehicles, increasing the chances of apprehending perpetrators. 'With increased visible policing and a united approach, we're confident that this partnership will yield tangible results in reducing crime and keeping our communities safe,' said the station commander. For more from the Highway Mail, follow us on Facebook , X and Instagram. You can also check out our videos on our YouTube channel or follow us on TikTok. Click to subscribe to our newsletter here At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Science
- Yahoo
New 8K-resolution photos of the sun show off incredible details of raging sunspots
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. Incredible new images of the sun's surface provide an unprecedented view of raging sunspots and solar activity. A new high-resolution camera system developed by the Leibniz Institute for Astrophysics Potsdam (AIP) for the Vacuum Tower Telescope (VTT), located at the Observatorio del Teide in Tenerife, reconstructed views of the sun with an 8K image resolution for the first time, according to a statement from AIP. Solar observations often face a trade-off between field of view and resolution. Large solar telescopes provide high-resolution images but cover limited areas, while smaller instruments can monitor the entire solar disk but lack fine detail. However, the VTT offers both a wide field of view and commendable spatial resolution. The integration of the new camera system enhances this capability, allowing for comprehensive and detailed studies of active solar regions. "In order to better understand solar activity, it is crucial not only to analyze the fundamental processes of the fine structure and the long-term development of global activity with various instruments, but also to investigate the temporal evolution of the magnetic field in active regions," Rolf Schlichenmaier, a scientist at the Institute for Solar Physics (KIS) in Freiburg, which operates the VTT, said in the statement. The new camera system employs advanced image restoration techniques, compiling 100 short-exposure images — each with a resolution of 8000x6000 pixels — captured at 25 frames per second. This process yields reconstructed images with 8K resolution, effectively mitigating disturbances caused by Earth's atmosphere and achieving a spatial resolution of approximately 62 miles (100 kilometers) on the sun's surface. Such precision enables the observation of dynamic solar processes on timescales as short as 20 seconds, according to the statement. RELATED STORIES: — 14,000 years ago, the most powerful solar storm ever recorded hit Earth. 'This event establishes a new worst-case scenario' — World's largest solar telescope gains powerful new 'eye' to study the sun's secrets — Watch the sun unleash 600,000-mile-long eruption in fiery outburst (video) Using this technology, researchers have obtained high-resolution images covering areas up to 124,274 miles (200,000 km) in diameter, which is approximately one-seventh of the sun's diameter. In turn, the images reveal intricate details of sunspot groups, plasma flows and magnetic field structures that trigger solar flares. This not only enhances our understanding of complex solar dynamics, but lends insight for improved space weather forecasting.
Hindustan Times
23-05-2025
- Science
- Hindustan Times
Sun in 8k: Scientists reveal the most detailed view of our star yet
The Sun and its surface are now available in 8k resolution thanks to the Vacuum Tower Telescope (VTT) installed at the Observatorio del Teide in Tenerife. Developed by the Leibniz Institute for Astrophysics Potsdam (AIP), this solar observation tool has provided a significant leap in the technology used to study and capture the surface level activity of the Sun by allowing us to capture not only a large field of view but also substantially higher resolution images that can be used by scientists to study the Sun's surface better. Traditional solar telescopes have often had to pick a battle between either providing highly pixelated images or maintaining a large field of view. The VTT, however, allows scientists to combine the best of both aspects owing to its unique ability to maintain spatial resolution during wide angle shots. 100 shot-exposure images can be shot at 25 frames per second in an 8,000 by 6,000 pixels resolution which can later be restored to recreate the image in 8k. The enhanced spatial resolution down to 100 km on the surface allows scientists to overlook distortions caused by the Earth's turbulent atmosphere during observation. The capacities this groundbreaking opportunity unveils are vast. Capturing the fine details of the Sun's surface allows scientists to better study flares and sunspots which arise as a result of magnetic fields and plasma motions. Tracking these features is a key part of shielding satellites, communication and power grids on Earth from the changes these eruptive events bring to space weather. Solar dynamics can now be better comprehended thanks to the VTT's ability to observe large-scale features that are approximately 200,000 km across. The smallest magnetic signatures can be identified as bright structures in the photosphere and chromosphere layers by applying specialized filters. 'In order to better understand solar activity, it is crucial not only to analyze the fundamental processes of the fine structure and the long-term development of global activity with various instruments, but also to investigate the temporal evolution of the magnetic field in active regions,' says Rolf Schlichenmaier, scientist at the Kiepenheuer Institute for Solar Physics (KIS). The VTT is also well-equipped with various other advanced instruments such as the HELioseismic Large Region Interferometric Device (HELLRIDE), the Laser Absolute Reference Spectrograph (LARS), and the Fast Multi-line Universal Spectrograph (FaMuLUS) which allow scientists to study solar activity more comprehensively. The telescope is living proof of how existing instruments can be attached to cutting-edge technology in order to increase the research output they provide. Carsten Denker, head of the Solar Physics Section at AIP, says, 'The results obtained show how, together with our partners, we are teaching an old telescope new tricks.' A study published in the journal Solar Physics provides more details about this innovative technology and its scientific applications.
Business Upturn
20-05-2025
- Business
- Business Upturn
IQM to Deliver World-leading 300-qubit Quantum Computer to Finland
Espoo, Finland: IQM will deliver two IQM Radiance quantum computers to VTT in Finland: first a 150-qubit computer in 2026 and a 300-qubit computer in 2027. The 300-qubit system is powered by two superconducting 150-qubit quantum processors. The quantum computers will be specifically designed to serve as testbeds for quantum error correction (QEC) to enable research and development for fault-tolerant quantum computers. The two quantum computers will be integrated with the Finnish HPC infrastructure. IQM Quantum Computers, a global leader in superconducting quantum computers, announced today the signing of an agreement with VTT Technical Research Centre in Finland to deliver a 150-qubit and a 300-qubit quantum computer. The systems will be delivered in 2026 and 2027 and integrated with the Finnish HPC infrastructure. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: IQM Radiance Quantum Computer The 300-qubit quantum computer is purpose-built and designed to support quantum error correction experiments an essential step toward fault-tolerant quantum computing. The system is expected to enable algorithm research for techniques such as circuit knitting. IQM has previously delivered 5-qubit, 20-qubit, and 50-qubit quantum computers to VTT, marking key milestones in the development of Finland's quantum ecosystem. Each system has played a crucial role in advancing research capabilities and supporting the growing needs of the quantum community in Finland. 'We are excited to continue our long-term partnership with VTT and ship our next generation of quantum computers to power Finland's quantum ecosystem,' says Mikko Välimäki, Co-CEO of IQM Quantum Computers. 'We are committed to delivering and deploying full-stack quantum computers worldwide, and Finland will get our highest performing quantum computer to date as the next step on our common journey to reach fault-tolerant quantum computing,' he continues. 'This 300-qubit superconducting quantum computer has the most superconducting qubits procured anywhere in the world. In addition, the delivery schedule is quick,' says Piia Konstari, Project Manager for VTT's quantum computer tendering process. IQM has sold and shipped more on-premises quantum computers in the last 12 months than any other quantum computer manufacturer, while its systems have been deployed by various universities and HPC centers globally. The company's approach is to power local quantum ecosystems with an open and transparent hardware and software platform. In addition, IQM on-premises users will get hands-on access to system hardware and software platforms including pulse-level access to control the qubits. 'This announcement highlights our commitment to deliver on our published development roadmap. The quantum computers will benefit from our strong technology stack including tunable couplers, HPC integration, and an open software stack. Our goal is to allow researchers and developers to start experimenting with the latest quantum error correction technologies and show groundbreaking quantum utility with these computers,' says Jan Goetz, IQM's Co-CEO and Co-founder. About IQM Quantum Computers: IQM is a global leader in superconducting quantum computers. IQM provides both on-premises full-stack quantum computers and a cloud platform to access its computers. IQM customers include the leading high-performance computing centres, research labs, universities and enterprises which have full access to IQM's software and hardware. IQM has over 300 employees with headquarters in Finland and a global presence in France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Poland, Spain, Singapore, South Korea and the United States. About VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland Ltd: VTT is a visionary research, development and innovation partner. We drive sustainable growth and tackle the biggest global challenges of our time and turn them into growth opportunities. We go beyond the obvious to help the society and companies to grow through technological innovations. We have over 80 years of experience of top-level research and science-based results. VTT is at the sweet spot where innovation and business come together. VTT – beyond the obvious. View source version on Disclaimer: The above press release comes to you under an arrangement with Business Wire. Business Upturn takes no editorial responsibility for the same.
