Stereo Imaging of the VHE Gamma-Rays with HEGRA and H.E.S.S

At present, the ground-based astronomy of very high energy (VHE) (E>100 GeV) gamma-rays experiences the challenging transition phase caused by the substantial upgrading of its observational instrumentation. Recently the HEGRA collaboration has evidently demonstrated the power of arrays of imaging atmospheric Cherenkov telescopes and initiated a number of complementary projects, such as H.E.S.S., CANGAROO IV, VERITAS. The common philosophy of those projects is based on the stereoscopic observations of air showers with a number of imaging telescopes simultaneously. Such observations allow to reduce substantially the effective energy threshold of detected gamma-ray showers; to improve the angular and energy resolution for individual gamma-rays; to gain in suppression of the cosmic ray background. In my talk I have summarized the general advantages and achieved sensitivity of the stereoscopic observations using the HEGRA data taken with an array of 5 imaging telescopes having the energy threshold of 500 GeV. These results completed with the relevant simulations may be extrapolated on a firm ground towards the future H.E.S.S. (phase I) array of four 12 m imaging telescopes with the estimated energy threshold below 100 GeV. Here I discuss in short the anticipated performance of such an array.Comment: 5 pages, 2 figures, to appear in proc. of ``Heidelberg International Symposium on High Energy Gamma-Ray Astronomy'' edited by F. Aharonian and H. Voelk, AIP Conf. Pro

On design studies for the future 50 GeV arrays of imaging air Cherenkov telescopes

Arrays of imaging air Cherenkov telescopes (IACTs) like VERITAS, HESS have been recently proposed as the instruments of the next generation for ground based very high energy gamma-ray astronomy invading into 50-100 GeV energy range. Here we present results of design studies for the future IACT arrays which have been performed by means of Monte Carlo simulations. We studied different trigger strategies, abilities of cosmic ray rejection for arrays of 4 and 16 telescopes with 10 m reflectors, equipped with cameras comprising 271 and 721 pixels of 0.25 and 0.15 degree, respectively. The comparative analysis of the performance of such telescope arrays has been done for both camera options, providing almost the same field of view of 4.3 degree. An important issue is the choice of the optimum spacing between the telescopes in such an array. In order to maximize the signal-to-noise ratio in observations at the small zenith angles of 20 degree as well as at large zenith angles of 60 degree, different arrangements of IACT array have been examined. Finally, we present a major recommendations regarding the optimum configuration.Comment: 5 pages, presented at the VERITAS Workshop on TeV Astrophysics of Extragalactic Sources, eds. M. Catanese, J. Quinn, and T. Weekes, to be published in Astroparticle Physic

Evidence for Intergalactic Absorption in the TeV Gamma-Ray Spectrum of Mkn 501

The recent HEGRA observations of the blazar Mkn 501 show strong curvature in the very high energy gamma-ray spectrum. Applying the gamma-ray opacity derived from an empirically based model of the intergalactic infrared background radiation field (IIRF), to these observations, we find that the intrinsic spectrum of this source is consistent with a power-law: dN/dE~ E^-alpha with alpha=2.00 +/- 0.03 over the range 500 GeV - 20 TeV. Within current synchrotron self-Compton scenarios, the fact that the TeV spectral energy distribution of Mkn 501 does not vary with luminosity, combined with the correlated, spectrally variable emission in X-rays, as observed by the BeppoSAX and RXTE instruments, also independently implies that the intrinsic spectrum must be close to alpha=2. Thus, the observed curvature in the spectrum is most easily understood as resulting from intergalactic absorption.Comment: 7 pages, 1 figure, accepted in ApJ Letters 1999 April

Multiwavelength Observations of LS I +61 303 with VERITAS, Swift and RXTE

We present results from a long-term monitoring campaign on the TeV binary LSI +61 303 with VERITAS at energies above 500 GeV, and in the 2-10 keV hard X-ray bands with RXTE and Swift, sampling nine 26.5 day orbital cycles between September 2006 and February 2008. The binary was observed by VERITAS to be variable, with all integrated observations resulting in a detection at the 8.8 sigma (2006/2007) and 7.3 sigma (2007/2008) significance level for emission above 500 GeV. The source was detected during active periods with flux values ranging from 5 to 20% of the Crab Nebula, varying over the course of a single orbital cycle. Additionally, the observations conducted in the 2007-2008 observing season show marginal evidence (at the 3.6 sigma significance level) for TeV emission outside of the apastron passage of the compact object around the Be star. Contemporaneous hard X-ray observations with RXTE and Swift show large variability with flux values typically varying between 0.5 and 3.0*10^-11 ergs cm^-2 s^-1 over a single orbital cycle. The contemporaneous X-ray and TeV data are examined and it is shown that the TeV sampling is not dense enough to detect a correlation between the two bands.Comment: 30 pages, 5 figures, 2 table, Accepted for publication in The Astrophysical Journa

Quantum Spacetime Phenomenology

I review the current status of phenomenological programs inspired by quantum-spacetime research. I stress in particular the significance of results establishing that certain data analyses provide sensitivity to effects introduced genuinely at the Planck scale. And my main focus is on phenomenological programs that managed to affect the directions taken by studies of quantum-spacetime theories.Comment: 125 pages, LaTex. This V2 is updated and more detailed than the V1, particularly for quantum-spacetime phenomenology. The main text of this V2 is about 25% more than the main text of the V1. Reference list roughly double