Imaging Very High Energy Gamma-Ray Telescopes

Abstract

The technique of gamma-ray astronomy at very high energies (VHE: > 100 GeV) with ground-based imaging atmospheric Cherenkov telescopes is described, the H.E.S.S. array in Namibia serving as example. Mainly a discussion of the physical principles of the atmospheric Cherenkov technique is given, emphasizing its rapid development during the last decade. The present status is illustrated by two examples: the spectral and morphological characterization in VHE gamma-rays of a shell-type supernova remnant together with its theoretical interpretation, and the results of a survey of the Galactic Plane that shows a large variety of non-thermal sources. The final part is devoted to an overview of the ongoing and future instrumental developments.

To be published in Experimental Astronomy. Also to be published in proceedings "400 Years of Astronomical Telescopes: A Review of History, Science and Technology", editors B.R. Brandl, R. Stuik, J.K. Katgert-Merkelijn, Springer 2009

References in corpus (12)

• Observations of the Crab Nebula with H.E.S.S
• High-energy particle acceleration in the shell of a supernova remnant
• VERITAS: the Very Energetic Radiation Imaging Telescope Array System
• Primary particle acceleration above 100 TeV in the shell-type Supernova Remnant RX J1713.7-3946 with deep H.E.S.S. observations
• A detailed spectral and morphological study of the gamma-ray supernova remnant RX J1713.7-3946 with H.E.S.S
• Simulation of Imaging Atmospheric Cherenkov Telescopes with CORSIKA and sim_telarray
• Theory of cosmic ray production in the supernova remnant RX J1713.7-3946
• The Trigger System of the H.E.S.S. Telescope Array
• Hadronic versus leptonic origin of the gamma-ray emission from Supernova Remnant RX J1713.7-3946
• Flat Spectrum X-ray Emission from the Direction of a Molecular Cloud Associated with SNR RX J1713.7-3946
• The Status and future of ground-based TeV gamma-ray astronomy. A White Paper prepared for the Division of Astrophysics of the American Physical Society
• Air Cherenkov Methods in Cosmic Rays: A Review and Some History

Cited by in corpus (12)

• A high performance likelihood reconstruction of gamma-rays for Imaging Atmospheric Cherenkov Telescopes
• First Experimental Characterization of Microwave Emission from Cosmic Ray Air Showers
• Sensitivity of the Cherenkov Telescope Array to the detection of a dark matter signal in comparison to direct detection and collider experiments
• Gamma rays from the Galactic Centre region: a review
• Stellar Intensity Interferometry: Prospects for sub-milliarcsecond optical imaging
• The Discovery of Cherenkov Radiation and its use in the detection of extensive air showers
• Galactic magnetic fields and the large-scale anisotropy at MILAGRO
• Volcanoes muon imaging using Cherenkov telescopes
• Constraints on very high energy gamma-ray emission from the Fermi Bubbles with future ground-based experiments
• Asymmetry of the angular distribution of Cherenkov photons of extensive air showers induced by the geomagnetic field
• Statistical Tools for Imaging Atmospheric Cherenkov Telescopes
• Analysis Methods for Gamma-ray Astronomy