Ground-based gamma-ray astronomy has had a major breakthrough with the impressive results obtained using systems of imaging atmospheric Cherenkov telescopes. Ground-based gamma-ray astronomy has a huge potential in astrophysics, particle physics and cosmology. CTA is an international initiative to build the next generation instrument, with a factor of 5–10 improvement in sensitivity in the 100 GeV–10 TeV range and the extension to energies well below 100 GeV and above 100 TeV. CTA will consist of two arrays (one in the north, one in the south) for full sky coverage and will be operated as open observatory. The design of CTA is based on currently available technology. This document reports on the status and presents the major design concepts of CTA.

The big bounce (BB) transition within a flat Friedmann-Robertson-Walker model is analyzed in the setting of loop geometry underlying the loop cosmology. We solve the constraint of the theory at the classical level to identify physical phase space and find the Lie algebra of the Dirac observables. We express energy density of matter and geometrical functions in terms of the observables. It is the modification of classical theory by the loop geometry that is responsible for BB. The classical energy scale specific to BB depends on a parameter that should be fixed either by cosmological data or determined theoretically at quantum level, otherwise the energy scale stays unknown.

We present a quantum model of the vacuum Bianchi-IX dynamics. It is based on four main elements. First, we use a compound quantization procedure: an affine coherent state quantization for isotropic variables and a Weyl quantization for anisotropic ones. Second, inspired by standard approaches in molecular physics, we make an adiabatic approximation (Born-Oppenheimer-like approximation). Third, we expand the anisotropy potential about its minimum in order to deal with its harmonic approximation. Fourth, we develop an analytical treatment on the semiclassical level. The resolution of the classical singularity occurs due to a repulsive potential generated by the affine quantization. This procedure shows that during contraction the quantum energy of anisotropic degrees of freedom grows much slower than the classical one. Furthermore, far from the quantum bounce, the classical recollapse is reproduced. Our treatment is put in the general context of methods of molecular physics, which can include both adiabatic and nonadiabatic approximations.

We present a new approach to the vacuum Bianchi IX model by combining affine coherent state quantization with Born-Oppenheimer-type adiabatic approximation in the analogy with quantum molecular physics. The analytical treatment is carried out on both quantum and semiclassical levels. Our quantization method by itself generates a specific repulsive potential that resolves the classical singularity. The quantized oscillatory degrees of freedom behave as radiation energy density. The Friedmann-like lowest-energy eigenstates of the system are found to be dynamically stable against small anisotropy perturbations, in contrast to the classical case.

We construct two reduced quantum theories for the Oppenheimer-Snyder model, respectively taking the point of view of the comoving and the exterior stationary observer, using affine coherent states quantization. Investigations of the quantum corrected dynamics reveal that both observers can see a bounce, although for the exterior observer certain quantization ambiguities have to be chosen correctly. The minimal radius for this bounce as seen from the stationary observer is then shown to always be outside of the photon sphere. Possible avenues to lower this minimal radius and reclaim black holes as an intermediate state in the collapse are discussed. We demonstrate further that switching between the observers at the level of the quantum theories can be achieved by modifying the commutation relations.