A. Moralejo

Dark Matter and Fundamental Physics with the Cherenkov Telescope Array

Abstract The Cherenkov Telescope Array (CTA) is a project for a next-generation observatory for very high energy (GeV–TeV) ground-based gamma-ray astronomy, currently in its design phase, and foreseen to be operative a few years from now. Several tens of telescopes of 2–3 different sizes, distributed over a large area, will allow for a sensitivity about a factor 10 better than current instruments such as H.E.S.S, MAGIC and VERITAS, an energy coverage from a few tens of GeV to several tens of TeV, and a field of view of up to 10°. In the following study, we investigate the prospects for CTA to study several science questions that can profoundly influence our current knowledge of fundamental physics. Based on conservative assumptions for the performance of the different CTA telescope configurations currently under discussion, we employ a Monte Carlo based approach to evaluate the prospects for detection and characterisation of new physics with the array. First, we discuss CTA prospects for cold dark matter searches, following different observational strategies: in dwarf satellite galaxies of the Milky Way, which are virtually void of astrophysical background and have a relatively well known dark matter density; in the region close to the Galactic Centre, where the dark matter density is expected to be large while the astrophysical background due to the Galactic Centre can be excluded; and in clusters of galaxies, where the intrinsic flux may be boosted significantly by the large number of halo substructures. The possible search for spatial signatures, facilitated by the larger field of view of CTA, is also discussed. Next we consider searches for axion-like particles which, besides being possible candidates for dark matter may also explain the unexpectedly low absorption by extragalactic background light of gamma-rays from very distant blazars. We establish the axion mass range CTA could probe through observation of long-lasting flares in distant sources. Simulated light-curves of flaring sources are also used to determine the sensitivity to violations of Lorentz invariance by detection of the possible delay between the arrival times of photons at different energies. Finally, we mention searches for other exotic physics with CTA.

Cosmic ray proton spectrum determined with the imaging atmospheric Cherenkov technique

The HEGRA system of 4 imaging atmospheric Cherenkov telescopes ~IACTs! has been used to determine the flux and the spectrum of cosmic ray protons over a limited energy range around 1.5 TeV. Although the IACT system is designed for the detection of g-rays with energies above 500 GeV, it has also a large detection area of .10 6 m 2 33 msr for primary protons of energies above 1 TeV and the capability to reconstruct the primary proton energy with a reasonable accuracy DE/E of 50% near this threshold. Furthermore, the principle of stereoscopic detection of air showers permits the effective suppression of air showers induced by heavier primaries already on the trigger level, and in addition on the software level by analysis of the stereoscopic images. The combination of both capabilities permits a determination of the proton spectrum almost independently of the cosmic ray chemical composition. The accuracy of our estimate of the spectral index at 1.5 TeV is limited by systematic uncertainties and is comparable to the accuracy achieved with recent balloon and space borne experiments. In this paper we describe in detail the analysis tools, namely the detailed Monte Carlo simulation, the analysis procedure and the results. We determine the local ~i.e., in the range of 1.5‐3 TeV! differential spectral index to be g p52.7260.02stat60.15syst and obtain an integral flux above 1.5 TeV of F (.1.5 TeV)53.160.6 stat61.2syst310 22 /s sr m 2 . @S0556-2821~99!04107-7#

Performance of the MAGIC Stereo System

MAGIC is a system of two Imaging Atmospheric Cherenkov Telescopes sensitive above �60 GeV, and located on the Canary Island of La Palma at the height of 2200 m.a.s.l. Since Autumn 2009 both telescopes are working together in stereoscopic mode. We use both Crab Nebula observations and Monte Carlo simulations to evaluate the performance of the system. Advanced stereo analysis allows MAGIC to achieve a sensitivity better than 0.8% of the Crab Nebula flux in 50 h of observations in the medium energy ra nge (around a few hundred GeV). At those energies the angular resolution is better than 0.07 ◦ , and the energy resolution is as good as 16%. We perform also a detailed study of possible systematics effects for the MAGIC telescopes.

Monte Carlo performance studies for the site selection of the Cherenkov Telescope Array

The Cherenkov Telescope Array (CTA) represents the next generation of ground-based instruments for very-high-energy (VHE) gamma-ray astronomy, aimed at improving on the sensitivity of current-generation experiments by an order of magnitude and providing coverage over four decades of energy. The current CTA design consists of two arrays of tens of imaging atmospheric Cherenkov Telescopes, comprising Small, Medium and Large-Sized Telescopes, with one array located in each of the Northern and Southern Hemispheres. To study the effect of the site choice on the overall CTA performance and support the site evaluation process, detailed Monte Carlo simulations have been performed. These results show the impact of different site-related attributes such as altitude, night-sky background and local geomagnetic field on CTA performance for the observation of VHE gamma rays.

THE MAGIC EXPERIMENT AND ITS FIRST RESULTS

With its diameter of 17m, the MAGIC telescope is the largest Cherenkov detector for gamma ray astrophysics. It is sensitive to photons above an energy of 30 GeV. MAGIC started operations in October 2003 and is currently taking data. This report summarizes its main characteristics, its first results and its potential for physics.

Latest MAGIC discoveries pushing redshift boundaries in VHE Astrophysics

The search for detection of ?-rays from distant AGNs by Imaging Atmospheric Cherenkov Telescopes (IACTs) is challenging at high redshifts, not only because of lower flux due to the distance of the source, but also due to the consequent absorption of gamma-rays by the extragalactic background light (EBL). Before the MAGIC discoveries reported in this work, the farthest source ever detected in the VHE domain was the blazar PKS 1424+240, at z > 0.6. MAGIC, a system of two 17 m of diameter IACTs located in the Canary island of La Palma, has been able to go beyond that limit and push the boundaries for VHE detection to redshifts z similar to 1. The two sources detected and analyzed, the blazar QSO B0218+357 and the FSRQ PKS 1441+25 are located at redshift z = 0.944 and z = 0.939 respectively. QSO B0218+357 is also the first gravitational lensed blazar ever detected in VHE. The activity, triggered by Fermi-LAT in high energy ?-rays, was followed up by other instruments, such as the KVA telescope in the optical band and the Swift-XRT in X-rays. In the present work we show results on MAGIC analysis on QSO B0218+357 and PKS 1441+25 together with multiwavelength lightcurves. The collected dataset allowed us to test for the first time the present generation of EBL models at such distances.

A novel background reduction strategy for high level triggers and processing in gamma‐ray Cherenkov detectors

Gamma ray astronomy is now at the leading edge for studies related both to fundamental physics and astrophysics. The sensitivity of gamma detectors is limited by the huge amount of background, constituted by hadronic cosmic rays (typically two to three orders of magnitude more than the signal) and by the accidental background in the detectors. By using the information on the temporal evolution of the Cherenkov light, the background can be reduced. We will present here the results obtained within the MAGIC experiment using a new technique for the reduction of the background. Particle showers produced by gamma rays show a different temporal distribution with respect to showers produced by hadrons; the background due to accidental counts shows no dependence on time. Such novel strategy can increase the sensitivity of present instruments.

Towards an optimized design for the Cherenkov Telescope Array

The Cherenkov Telescope Array (CTA) is a future instrument for very-high-energy (VHE) gamma-ray astronomy that is expected to deliver an order of magnitude improvement in sensitivity over existing instruments. In order to meet the physics goals of CTA in a cost-effective way, Monte Carlo simulations of the telescope array are used in its design. Specifically, we simulate large arrays comprising numerous large-size, medium-size and small-size telescopes whose configuration parameters are chosen based on current technical design studies and understanding of the costs involved. Subset candidate arrays with various layout configurations are then selected and evaluated in terms of key performance parameters, such as the sensitivity. This is carried out using a number of data analysis methods, some of which were developed within the field and extended to CTA, while others were developed specifically for this purpose. We outline some key results from recent studies that illustrate our approach to the optimization of the CTA design.

Data Quality Check and On-Site Analysis of the MAGIC Telescope

We present the scheme developed for the quick analysis and data quality checks on the MAGIC Cherenkov Telescope at La Palma. Due to its low energy threshold MAGIC acquires data of atmospheric showers at a rate of more than 200Hz, which translates in up to 700GB per night. A fast On-Site data reduction is needed to detect hardware problems and in many cases to decide on observation strategies. The data are automatically calibrated and pre-processed at the MAGIC site using automated scripts on multiprocessor systems. Check plots are generated, and first results are available in the morning. This system complements a quick online analysis which runs in parallel with the data acquisition.