Astronomy and Astrophysics – Astrophysics
Scientific paper
Feb 1990
adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=1990iowa.rept.....l&link_type=abstract
Progress Report, 1 May 1989 - 1 Feb. 1990 Iowa State Univ. of Science and Technology, Ames.
Astronomy and Astrophysics
Astrophysics
Astrophysics, Cameras, Cerenkov Radiation, Gamma Ray Astronomy, Gamma Rays, Imaging Techniques, Radiation Detectors, Stereoscopic Vision
Scientific paper
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(11) to approximately 10(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.
Lamb Richard C.
Lewis Aaron D.
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