P. Conconi

About

P. Conconi is a leading figure in the development of robotic, multi-wavelength observatories for time-domain astrophysics, with a particular focus on Gamma-Ray Bursts (GRBs). Their most significant contribution is the conception and realization of the Rapid Eye Mount (REM) telescope, a fully robotic facility at La Silla, Chile, designed for the prompt, simultaneous optical and near-infrared (NIR) follow-up of GRB triggers from satellites like Swift. Conconi’s work on REM, detailed in papers with over 80 and 60 citations, revolutionized the field by enabling the first observations of the prompt NIR afterglow, crucial for studying high-redshift bursts and the early physics of these cataclysmic events. Beyond REM, Conconi extended this robotic expertise to extreme environments, leading the International Robotic Antarctic Infrared Telescope (IRAIT) project, which aimed to exploit Dome C’s exceptional conditions for thermal infrared astronomy. Their later work also advanced x-ray optics, developing innovative techniques for integrating segmented mirrors. Through these pioneering projects, Conconi has demonstrated a remarkable ability to engineer novel, autonomous instruments that open new observational windows, leaving a lasting impact on transient astronomy and high-energy astrophysics.

Research Focus

Key Achievements

Top Papers

1. 1
   The REM telescope: detecting the near infra-red counterparts of Gamma-Ray Bursts and the prompt behavior of their optical continuum

   81 citations · 2001
2. 2
   REM: a fully robotic telescope for GRB observations

   60 citations · 2004
3. 3
   The REM telescope: a robotic multiwavelength facility

   28 citations · 2004
4. 4
   The International Robotic Antarctic Infrared Telescope (IRAIT)

   25 citations · 2006
5. 5
   The REM optical slitless spectrograph (ROSS)

   23 citations · 2004
6. 6
   Accurate integration of segmented x-ray optics using interfacing ribs

   21 citations · 2013
7. 7
   The REM-IR camera: High quality near infrared imaging with a small robotic telescope

   18 citations · 2003
8. 8
   The Multi‐frequency Robotic facility REM: first results

   12 citations · 2004
9. 9
   AQuA: an automatic pipeline for fast transients detection

   6 citations · 2004
10. 10
    REM - Rapid Eye Mount. A Fast Slewing Robotized Telescope to Monitor the Prompt Infra-red Afterglow of GRBs

    6 citations · 2006

Key Collaborators

Contact & Links