New detector for observing very high energy gamma rays from celestial sources

Tumay O. Tumer; B. L. Holbrook; J. Linn; Juan Lizarazo; Gora Mohanty; Umar Mohideen; Pat Murray; Harry W.K. Tom; Mani Tripathi; Guangmao Xing; Jeffrey Zweerink

doi:10.1117/12.454216

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25 January 2002 New detector for observing very high energy gamma rays from celestial sources

Tumay O. Tumer, B. L. Holbrook, J. Linn, Juan Lizarazo, Gora Mohanty, Umar Mohideen, Pat Murray, Harry W.K. Tom, Mani Tripathi, Guangmao Xing, Jeffrey Zweerink

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Proceedings Volume 4497, X-Ray and Gamma-Ray Instrumentation for Astronomy XII; (2002) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.454216
Event: International Symposium on Optical Science and Technology, 2001, San Diego, CA, United States

Abstract

The Keck Solar Two Gamma-Ray Observatory is a ground-based instrument is being developed to detect 20-300 GeV gamma rays by sampling the Cherenkov light generated as gamma rays and cosmic rays interact with the atmosphere. The observatory utilizes the Solar Two Pilot Power Plant in Barstow, California (Figure 1) which has the largest heliostat mirror area in the world. It has over 1,818 heliostats each with about 41 m² mirror area. The total active area is over 75,000 m². Thus, Keck Solar Two Gamma Ray Observatory has the potential to be the most sensitive ground-based gamma-ray detector between 20-300 GeV. The secondary mirror systems, each capable of viewing 32 heliostats has been designed. The secondary mirror systems also include the photomultiplier tube (PMT) camera, electronics, and heliostat field. The first secondary camera has been manufactured and it is being calibrated. Work on building the second secondary camera system with 32 heliostats has been started. When the second system is completed a 64 heliostat telescope will be ready to observe 50-300 GeV gamma rays. Further enlargement of the telescope to 128 or 256 heliostat is expected to lower the energy threshold to about 20 GeV.

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Tumay O. Tumer, B. L. Holbrook, J. Linn, Juan Lizarazo, Gora Mohanty, Umar Mohideen, Pat Murray, Harry W.K. Tom, Mani Tripathi, Guangmao Xing, and Jeffrey Zweerink "New detector for observing very high energy gamma rays from celestial sources", Proc. SPIE 4497, X-Ray and Gamma-Ray Instrumentation for Astronomy XII, (25 January 2002); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.454216

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