Astrophysics with Milagro

Journal Article · Mon Feb 21 04:00:00 EST 2005 · AIP Conference Proceedings

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.1878479· OSTI ID:20630546

Smith, A J ^[1]

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1. Dept. of Physics, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742-4111 (United States)

Milagro is a TeV gamma-ray observatory that utilizes a large water Cherenkov detector to observe extensive air showers produced by high energy particles impacting the Earth's atmosphere. A 4000 m2 pond instrumented with 723 8'' PMTs detects Cherenkov light produced by secondary air-shower particles. A sparse array of 175 40001 water tanks surrounding the central pond detector has recently been added which will extend the physical area of Milagro to 40,000 m2 and substantially increase the sensitivity of the instrument. Based on three years of operation, Milagro has established its sensitivity through the detection of the Crab plerion and active galaxy Markarian 421. Milagro's distinct advantage compared to other TeV gamma-ray detectors is that it views a wide field (2 steradian over-head sky) and it continuously operates (>90% live time). These factors give Milagro the potential for discovery of new sources with unknown positions and times, such as gamma-ray bursts, flaring AGN, and observation of diffuse extended sources like the Galactic plane or large supernova remnants. A summary of the recent results from the Milagro collaboration is presented with a focus on evidence for two newly observed TeV sources: diffuse emission from the Cygnus Region, and evidence for a diffuse TeV hot spot near the EGRET unidentified 3EG J0520+2556.

• OSTI ID: 20630546
• Journal Information: AIP Conference Proceedings, Journal Name: AIP Conference Proceedings Journal Issue: 1 Vol. 745; ISSN APCPCS; ISSN 0094-243X
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS
ASTROPHYSICS
CHERENKOV COUNTERS
COSMIC GAMMA BURSTS
COSMIC GAMMA SOURCES
COSMIC PHOTONS
COSMIC RAY DETECTION
DEAD TIME
EXTENSIVE AIR SHOWERS
GAMMA ASTRONOMY
GAMMA RADIATION
MARKARIAN GALAXIES
PHOTON EMISSION
SENSITIVITY
SUPERNOVA REMNANTS
TELESCOPE COUNTERS
TEV RANGE
WATER