Potential of the next generation VHE instruments to probe the EBL (I): the low- and mid-VHE

Abstract

The diffuse meta-galactic radiation field at ultraviolet to infrared wavelengths - commonly labeled extragalactic background light (EBL) - contains the integrated emission history of the universe. Difficult to access via direct observations indirect constraints on its density can be derived through observations of very-high energy (VHE; E>100 GeV) gamma-rays from distant sources: the VHE photons are attenuated via pair-production with the low energy photons from the EBL, leaving a distinct imprint in the VHE spectra measured on earth. Discoveries made with current generation VHE observatories like H.E.S.S. and MAGIC enabled strong constraints on the density of the EBL especially in the near-infrared. In this article the prospect of future VHE observatories to derive new constraints on the EBL density are discussed. To this end, results from current generation instruments will be extrapolated to the future experiment's sensitivity and investigated for their power to enable new methods and improved constraints on the EBL density.

Accepted for publication in Astroparticle Physics; v2: extended discussion following referees comments, conclusions unchanged

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Cited by in corpus (6)

• Measurement of the extragalactic background light imprint on the spectra of the brightest blazars observed with H.E.S.S
• Potential of EBL and cosmology studies with the Cherenkov Telescope Array
• IACT observations of gamma-ray bursts: prospects for the Cherenkov Telescope Array
• Dark matter powered stars: Constraints from the extragalactic background light
• Probing the peak of the star formation rate density with the extragalactic background light
• Direct detection of Black Holes via electromagnetic radiation