Ground-based detectors in very-high-energy gamma-ray astronomy

Mathieu de Naurois; Daniel Mazin

doi:10.1016/j.crhy.2015.08.011

Ground-based detectors in very-high-energy gamma-ray astronomy

Mathieu de Naurois ¹ ; Daniel Mazin ²

¹ Laboratoire Leprince-Ringuet, École polytechnique, CNRS/IN2P3, Université Paris-Saclay, 91128 Palaiseau cedex, France
² Institute for Cosmic Ray Research, University of Tokyo, 277-8582 Chiba, Japan

Comptes Rendus. Physique, Volume 16 (2015) no. 6-7, pp. 610-627.

Abstract
Résumé

Following the discovery of the cosmic rays by Victor Hess in 1912, more than 70 years and numerous technological developments were needed before an unambiguous detection of the first very-high-energy gamma-ray source in 1989 was made. Since this discovery, the field on very-high-energy gamma-ray astronomy experienced a true revolution: a second, then a third generation of instruments were built, observing the atmospheric cascades from the ground, either through the atmospheric Cherenkov light they comprise, or via the direct detection of the charged particles they carry. Present arrays, 100 times more sensitive than the pioneering experiments, have detected a large number of astrophysical sources of various types, thus opening a new window on the non-thermal Universe. New, even more sensitive instruments are currently being built; these will allow us to explore further this fascinating domain. In this article we describe the detection techniques, the history of the field and the prospects for the future of ground-based very-high-energy gamma-ray astronomy.

Depuis la découverte des rayons cosmiques en 1912 par Victor Hess, il aura fallu près de 70 ans et de nombreux développements pour aboutir à la première détection d'une source gamma de très haute énergie en 1989. Depuis cette découverte, le domaine de l'astronomie gamma de très haute énergie a vécu une véritable révolution : des détecteurs de deuxième, puis de troisième génération ont vu le jour, observant les cascades atmosphériques depuis le sol, soit à travers l'émission Tcherenkov atmosphérique qui les accompagne, soit en détectant directement les particules chargées qui les composent. Les réseaux récents, environ 100 fois plus sensibles que les plus anciens, ont détecté de très nombreuses sources astrophysiques de types variés et ont ainsi ouvert une nouvelle fenêtre sur l'Univers non thermique. De nouveaux réseaux de télescopes encore plus sensibles, en cours de construction, vont nous permettre de pousser encore plus loin l'exploration de ce domaine fascinant. Dans cet article, nous décrivons les techniques de détection, dressons un panorama historique du domaine et présentons les perspectives pour le futur de l'astronomie gamma de très haute énergie au sol.

Published online: 2015-08-01

DOI: 10.1016/j.crhy.2015.08.011

Keywords: Gamma rays, Cherenkov detectors, Imaging atmospheric Cherenkov telescopes
Mot clés : Rayons gamma, Détecteurs Tcherenkov, Télescopes à effet Cherenkov atmosphériques

Author's affiliations:

Mathieu de Naurois ¹; Daniel Mazin ²

¹ Laboratoire Leprince-Ringuet, École polytechnique, CNRS/IN2P3, Université Paris-Saclay, 91128 Palaiseau cedex, France
² Institute for Cosmic Ray Research, University of Tokyo, 277-8582 Chiba, Japan

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Mathieu de Naurois; Daniel Mazin. Ground-based detectors in very-high-energy gamma-ray astronomy. Comptes Rendus. Physique, Volume 16 (2015) no. 6-7, pp. 610-627. doi : 10.1016/j.crhy.2015.08.011. https://comptes-rendus.academie-sciences.fr/physique/articles/10.1016/j.crhy.2015.08.011/

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