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About

Aleksander Paravac is a key figure in the development of next-generation ground-based gamma-ray astronomy, specializing in the robotic operation and long-term monitoring of TeV blazars. As a core member of the FACT (First G-APD Cherenkov Telescope) collaboration, Paravac has been instrumental in proving the viability of silicon photomultipliers (SiPMs) for Cherenkov telescopes. Their work on FACT, which began operation in 2011, demonstrated that solid-state photosensors could replace traditional photomultiplier tubes, enabling more stable and efficient observations. Paravac’s major contribution lies in advancing the telescope’s robotic capabilities, making FACT the first Cherenkov telescope routinely operated remotely without an on-site crew. This innovation maximized the instrument’s duty cycle, allowing for unprecedented, unbiased monitoring of active galactic nuclei. Over more than eight years of operation, this approach has produced a unique, high-cadence dataset on blazar variability at TeV energies. With key papers accumulating over 20 citations, Paravac’s work has laid the technical and operational groundwork for future facilities like the Cherenkov Telescope Array (CTA), showcasing how robust, automated systems can revolutionize time-domain astrophysics.