Canadian Team Installs 2 Quantum Cameras on $40 Million Chile Telescope
Updated
Updated · CBC Sports · May 14
Canadian Team Installs 2 Quantum Cameras on $40 Million Chile Telescope
2 articles · Updated · CBC Sports · May 14
Two Canadian-built quantum sensor cameras are due to be installed this summer on the Fred Young Submillimeter Telescope in Chile, with first data expected by mid-fall.
The cameras operate at just 0.1 degree above absolute zero, letting the 6-metre telescope detect faint submillimetre light from extremely cold gas where stars form and from distant early galaxies.
Perched 5,600 metres up in the Atacama Desert, the telescope uses the site’s thin, dry air to achieve near-space clarity at far lower cost than a satellite mission.
The project involves researchers at a dozen Canadian institutions within a Cornell-led international partnership; findings will be processed through dedicated data centres and released publicly about a year after collection begins.
How will Canadian quantum cameras, operating near absolute zero, reveal the universe's birth in ways even Hubble cannot?
With its wide-angle view, how will the FYST's 'celestial cinematography' transform our race to map the entire cosmos?
Fred Young Submillimeter Telescope Launches with Canadian Quantum Cameras, Promising Breakthroughs in Cosmology
Overview
On April 9, 2026, the Fred Young Submillimeter Telescope (FYST) was inaugurated in Chile, marking a new era for exploring the universe. A key highlight is the installation of advanced quantum cameras, a pioneering Canadian contribution led by Dr. Scott Chapman and a national consortium. These quantum cameras are set to revolutionize submillimeter astronomy by offering sharper and more sensitive observations. Their integration will greatly enhance FYST’s capabilities, making it possible to address deep cosmic mysteries and push the boundaries of our understanding of the early universe and galactic evolution.