Very high energy gamma ray astrophysics

Technical Report · Thu Feb 01 04:00:00 EST 1990

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/5076918· OSTI ID:5076918

Lamb, R. C.; Lewis, D. A.

Our scientific goal is to discover and study by means of gamma-ray astronomy those regions of the universe where particles are accelerated to extreme energies. The atmospheric Cherenkov technique provides a unique and potentially sensitive window in the region of 10{sup 11} to approximately 10{sup 14} eV for this purpose. The Whipple Observatory Collaboration is currently engaged in the development of a Cherenkov camera which has the ultimate capability of distinguishing gamma-ray showers from the numerous cosmic-ray background showers by imaging the Cherenkov light from each shower. We have recently demonstrated the potential of the imaging technique with our 18 sigma detection of TeV photons from the Crab Nebula using a camera of 10 elements, pixel spacing 0.25 degrees. This detection represents a factor of 10 improvement in sensitivity compared to a non-imaging detector. The next step in the development of the detector is to obtain a second large reflector, similar to the present 10 meter instrument, for stereoscopic viewing of showers. This project, named GRANITE, is now approved by DOE. With GRANITE it should be possible to probe more deeply in space by a factor of 7, and to fully investigate the possibility of new physics which has been suggested by reports of anomalous radiation from Hercules X-1. 18 refs.

• Research Organization: Iowa State Univ. of Science and Technology, Ames, IA (USA)
• Sponsoring Organization: DOE/ER
• DOE Contract Number: AC02-80ER10774
• OSTI ID: 5076918
• Report Number(s): DOE/ER/10774-10; ON: DE90006645
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

440104 -- Radiation Instrumentation-- High Energy Physics Instrumentation
46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
640101* -- Astrophysics & Cosmology-- Cosmic Radiation
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
ASTRONOMY
ASTROPHYSICS
BLACK HOLES
CHERENKOV COUNTERS
COSMIC RADIO SOURCES
CRAB NEBULA
DETECTION
DOCUMENT TYPES
GAMMA ASTRONOMY
GAMMA DETECTION
MEASURING INSTRUMENTS
NEBULAE
PROGRESS REPORT
RADIATION DETECTION
RADIATION DETECTORS
RESEARCH PROGRAMS
SUPERNOVA REMNANTS