Ground based gamma-ray astronomy with Cherenkov Telescopes

Abstract

Very-high-energy (>100 GeV) gamma-ray astronomy is emerging as an important discipline in both high energy astrophysics and astro-particle physics. This field is currently dominated by Imaging Atmospheric-Cherenkov Telescopes (IACTs) and arrays of these telescopes. Such arrays have achieved the best angular resolution and energy flux sensitivity in the gamma-ray domain and are still far from the fundamental limits of the technique. Here I will summarise some key aspects of this technique and go on to review the current status of the major instruments and to highlight selected recent results.

18 pages, 7 figures, accepted for publication in the New Journal of Physics

References in corpus (3)

• Variable VHE gamma-ray emission from Markarian 501
• H.E.S.S. observations of the supernova remnant RX J0852.0-4622: shell-type morphology and spectrum of a widely extended VHE gamma-ray source
• HESS Observations and VLT Spectroscopy of PG 1553+113

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