posted 8th May 2025
Two of CTT’s founders are among the authors of a definitive guide to astronomical instrumentation and techniques
We are proud to announce that Celtic Terahertz Technology CEO, Professor Carole E. Tucker, has co-authored a major new scientific publication: Physical Principles of Astronomical Instrumentation, released by CRC Press in January 2024.
Co-written with Professor Peter A. R. Ade and Professor Matthew J. Griffin, this authoritative volume offers an in-depth and highly accessible introduction to astronomical instruments, techniques, and observational methods. All three authors are internationally recognised figures in submillimetre and terahertz instrumentation and all have played key roles in the development of the technology now commercialised through CTT.
A Textbook Grounded in Mission-Proven Expertise
Spanning 319 pages and including 12 colour and 240 black-and-white illustrations, the book provides practical instruction and theoretical background across a wide range of wavelengths. It is rooted in the authors’ long-running postgraduate teaching programme at Cardiff University and is designed as an ideal reference for both undergraduate and graduate students.
It reviews key concepts in astrophysics, spectroscopy, and signal analysis, with problem sets and case studies to support real-world application. As noted in the publisher’s summary, the book:
- Presents a self-contained account of a highly complex subject
- Offers practical advice across a wide range of wavelengths and instrumentation
- Includes case studies and problem sets for further learning
- Comes with a Solutions Manual for approved course adoption
Connecting to CTT’s Scientific Legacy
What makes this publication uniquely valuable is the authors’ deep involvement in real-world, mission-critical science. Between them, Professors Tucker, Ade and Griffin have contributed to instruments aboard Planck, Herschel, Cassini, SCUBA, Spitzer, and more, many of which depended on the filter technology invented by Professor Ade and which is the basis of CTT’s commercial activity.
CTT’s founding mission; to deliver best-in-class, precision-engineered THz components—is rooted in this legacy of academic excellence and scientific leadership. The same custom-engineered filter technology that extended the lifespan of the Planck mission by 14 months is part of the real-world case material explored in the book.
Why It Matters
As the exploitation of terahertz frequencies gains momentum across aerospace, defence and climate research, the need for foundational training has never been greater. This publication educates and empowers the next generation of scientists, using tools that have already proven themselves at the frontiers of human knowledge.
Authorship Details
Professor Carole E. Tucker is CEO of Celtic Terahertz Technology Ltd, where she leads the commercial delivery of precision THz optical components. A physicist and engineer by training, she has supplied enabling technology to multiple international far-infrared and submillimetre space missions. Carole manages CTT’s heritage in quasi-optical filter production, and is a Fellow of the Institute of Physics, the Royal Astronomical Society, and the Learned Society of Wales.
Professor Peter A. R. Ade is the company’s Senior Scientific Adviser. With more than 40 years in instrumentation design and deployment, he has contributed to missions including Planck, Herschel, ISO, and SCUBA. He was awarded NASA’s Public Service Medal (1994) and the Royal Astronomical Society’s Jackson-Gwilt Medal (2009).
Professor Matthew J. Griffin is Professor of Astrophysics at Cardiff University and was Principal Investigator for ESA’s Herschel-SPIRE instrument. He has developed instrumentation for major observatories and missions including SCUBA-2 and Planck-HFI, and is a Fellow of both the Institute of Physics and the Learned Society of Wales.
Physical Principles of Astronomical Instrumentation
Published by CRC Press, January 29, 2024
319 pages, ISBN 9781032040035
