I. Holl

First results on the performance of the HEGRA IACT array

Abstract First results concerning the performance characteristics of the HEGRA IACT array are given based on stereoscopic observations of the Crab Nebula with four telescopes. The system provides a γ-ray energy threshold around 0.5 TeV. The Crab signal demonstrates an angular resolution of about 0.1°. Shape cuts allow to suppress cosmic ray background by almost a factor 100, while maintaining 40% efficiency for γ-rays. The Crab signal is essentially background free. For longer observation times of order 100 h, the system in its present form provides sensitivity to point sources at a level of 3% of the Crab flux. Performance is expected to improve further with the inclusion of the fifth telescope and the implementation of advanced algorithms for shower reconstruction.

Design and performance of the angle integrating Čerenkov array AIROBICC

Abstract An air-shower array consisting of 49 open huts with photomultiplier tubes viewing the night sky over a solid angle of about 1 steradian is described. The array is operating in conjunction with the HEGRA installation. The main objectives of the experiment are VHE to UHE γ-ray astronomy and a determination of the chemical composition of cosmic rays. The design principles, construction and performance in angular resolution, energy threshold and determination of shower parameters are discussed.

Detection of gamma rays above 1 TeV from the Crab Nebula by the second HEGRA imaging atmospheric Cherenkov telescope at La Palma

Abstract The results of observations of the Crab Nebula by the second HEGRA imaging atmospheric Cherenkov telescope during the period 1994/1995 are presented. The signal, detected at a level of 10 σ , allows one to estimate the flux and the spectral index of the γ -ray energy spectrum above 1 TeV. The analysis, based on the comparison of measurements with comprehensive Monte Carlo simulations, reveals a γ -ray flux F γ (≥ 1 TeV) ⋍ 8 × 10 −12 photons cm −2 s −1 , and indicates a rather steep integral spectrum in the energy region 1–3 TeV with a power-law index α ⋍ 1.6–1.8.

A search for gamma radiation above 24 TeV energy from cosmic point sources

Abstract The HEGRA collaboration has searched for γ-ray emission from 36 potential cosmic point sources with the wide angle air Cerenkov detector AIROBICC which is part of the HEGRA cosmic ray detector complex on La Palma. AIROBICC has a γ-ray energy threshold of around 24 TeV and a mean angular resolution of 0.29 °. None of the sources could be found. Upper limits to their fluxes are given. For the VHE γ-ray emitters, the Crab nebula and Mrk 421, these flux limits are below those extrapolated from lower energy observations. Our lower limit for Mrk 421 might be interpreted either as being due to an energy cut-off in the acceleration mechanism or to the onset of γ-interaction with photons of the universal infrared background.

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#

Methods to determine the angular resolution of the HEGRA extended air shower scintillator array

Abstract A precise knowledge of the angular resolution of scintillator arrays used to observe extended air showers (EAS) is of key importance in the search for VHE/UHE γ point sources. Four independent methods have been used to determine the mean resolution for which a value of 〈ΔΘ63〉 of 0.8°(1.0°) at a proton threshold of 50 (40) TeV has been found for the HEGRA EAS-array.

Study of the temporal and spectral characteristics of TeV gamma radiation from Mkn 501 during a state of high activity by the HEGRA IACT array

During the period March-April 1997, a high flux level of TeV γ-rays was observed from Mkn 501, using the HEGRA stereoscopic system of four imaging atmospheric Cherenkov telescopes (IACTs). The almost background-free detection of γ-rays with a rate exceeding in average 100 h−1, coupled with good energy resolution of the instrument ⩽25% allowed a study of the flux variation on time scales between 5 min and days, and measurements of the differential energy spectrum of the source for selected periods. Here we briefly discuss the results of observations with emphasis on the measurements of temporal and spectral characteristics of the source at 3 subsequent periods in April when the average flux of the source showed a remarkable increase of the flux from about one to eight times the flux observed from the Crab Nebula.

Search for UHE γ sources with the HEGRA detector

The HEGRA collaboration has collected 225 million air shower events with a scintillator array distributed over 3.2×104 m2 in the time between 1989 and 1992. We have searched the data for steady state and sporadic emission from point sources. The median energy of γ showers registers by our detector is about 75 TeV and the average angular resolution 0.7°. No significant steady state or sporadic excess has been found. Upper limits are presented.

Airobicc–a new array of angle integrating Cerenkov counters for improved γ/Hadron separation in extended air showers

We propose to build an array of angle integrating air Cerenkov counters and to combine it with the HEGRA scintillator matrix at La Palma. The array will be sensitive to extended air showers above an energy of ≊5×1013 eV and up to a zenith angle of 35°. The incident shower direction will be determined from fast timing measurements with an angular resolution of 2–0.5 mrad. The combination of the Cerenkov‐ and scintillator matrix data will provide a powerful tool for γ/hadron discrimination. Together with the proposed muon detectors we expect to achieve rejection ratios of ≥104 thus approaching the possibility to detect diffuse γ‐radiation.

A conceptual design of a 104 km2 detector for the observation of UHE cosmic rays above 1017 eV

A conceptual design of a detector for the study of cosmic radiation in the energy range from 1017 eV up to 1021 eV is presented. The detector extends over an area of 104 km2. The basic detection elements are small solar blind air Cerenkov detectors. Details of the design will be discussed.