Advanced search
Start date
Betweenand
(Reference retrieved automatically from Web of Science through information on FAPESP grant and its corresponding number as mentioned in the publication by the authors.)

First detection of the Crab Nebula at TeV energies with a Cherenkov telescope in a dual-mirror Schwarzschild-Couder configuration: the ASTRI-Horn telescope

Full text
Author(s):
Show less -
Lombardi, S. [1, 2] ; Catalano, O. ; Scuderi, S. ; Antonelli, L. A. [1, 2] ; Pareschi, G. [3] ; Antolini, E. [4] ; Arrabito, L. [5] ; Bellassai, G. [6] ; Bernloehr, K. [7] ; Bigongiari, C. [1] ; Biondo, B. ; Bonanno, G. [6] ; Bonnoli, G. [3] ; Bottcher, G. M. [8] ; Bregeon, J. [9] ; Bruno, P. [6] ; Canestrari, R. ; Capalbi, M. ; Caraveo, P. ; Conconi, P. [3] ; Conforti, V [10] ; Contino, G. ; Cusumano, G. ; de Gouveia Dal Pino, E. M. [11] ; Distefano, A. ; Farisato, G. [12] ; Fermino, C. [11] ; Fiorini, M. ; Frigo, A. [12] ; Gallozzi, S. [1] ; Gargano, C. ; Garozzo, S. [6] ; Gianotti, F. [10] ; Giarrusso, S. ; Gimenes, R. [11] ; Giro, E. [12] ; Grillo, A. [6] ; Impiombato, D. ; Incorvaia, S. ; La Palombara, N. ; La Parola, V ; La Rosa, G. ; Leto, G. [6] ; Lucarelli, F. [1, 2] ; Maccarone, M. C. ; Marano, D. [6] ; Martinetti, E. [6] ; Micciche, A. [6] ; Millul, R. [3] ; Mineo, T. ; Nicotra, G. [13] ; Occhipinti, G. [6] ; Pagano, I [6] ; Perri, M. [1, 2] ; Romeo, G. [6] ; Russo, F. [10] ; Sacco, B. ; Sangiorgi, P. ; Saturni, F. G. [1] ; Segreto, A. ; Sironi, G. [3] ; Sottile, G. ; Stamerra, A. [1] ; Stringhetti, L. ; Tagliaferri, G. [3] ; Tavani, M. [14] ; Testa, V [1] ; Timpanaro, M. C. [6] ; Toso, G. ; Tosti, G. [15] ; Trifoglio, M. [10] ; Umana, G. [6] ; Vercellone, S. [3] ; Sanchez, R. Zanmar [6] ; Arcaro, C. [12] ; Bulgarelli, A. [10] ; Cardillo, M. [14] ; Cascone, E. [16] ; Costa, A. [6] ; D'Ai, A. ; D'Ammando, F. [10] ; Del Santo, M. ; Fioretti, V [10] ; Lamastra, A. [1] ; Mereghetti, S. ; Pintore, F. ; Rodeghiero, G. [12] ; Romano, P. [3] ; Schwarz, J. [3] ; Sciacca, E. [6] ; Vitello, F. R. [6] ; Wolter, A. [3]
Total Authors: 92
Affiliation:
Show less -
[1] INAF Osservatorio Astron Roma, I-00078 Rome - Italy
[2] ASI Space Sci Data Ctr, I-00133 Rome - Italy
[3] Univ Montpellier, LUPM IN2P3, I-23807 Merate, LC - Italy
[4] CTA Observ, I-40129 Bologna - Italy
[5] Univ Montpellier, LUPM IN2P3, F-34095 Montpellier - France
[6] INAF Osservatorio Astron Catania, I-95123 Catania - Italy
[7] MPI Kernphys, D-69117 Heidelberg - Germany
[8] North West Univ, CSR, ZA-2520 Potchefstroom - South Africa
[9] Univ Grenoble Alpes, LPSC IN2P3, F-38400 St Martin Dheres - France
[10] INAF OAS Bologna, I-40129 Bologna - Italy
[11] Univ Sao Paulo, IAG, BR-5508090 Sao Paulo, SP - Brazil
[12] INAF Osservatorio Astron Padova, I-35122 Padua - Italy
[13] INAF IRA Noto Stn, I-96017 Noto, SR - Italy
[14] INAF IAPS Roma, I-00133 Rome - Italy
[15] Univ Perugia, Dipartimento Fis & Geol, I-06123 Perugia - Italy
[16] INAF Osservatorio Astron Capodimonte, I-80131 Naples - Italy
Total Affiliations: 16
Document type: Journal article
Source: Astronomy & Astrophysics; v. 634, JAN 30 2020.
Web of Science Citations: 0
Abstract

We report on the first detection of very high-energy gamma-ray emission from the Crab Nebula by a Cherenkov telescope in dual-mirror Schwarzschild-Couder (SC) configuration. This result has been achieved by means of the 4m ASTRI-Horn telescope, operated on Mt. Etna, Italy, and developed in the context of the Cherenkov Telescope Array Observatory preparatory phase. The dual-mirror SC design is aplanatic and characterized by a small plate scale, which allows us to implement large cameras with a large field of view, with small-size pixel sensors and a high level of compactness. The curved focal plane of the ASTRI camera is covered by silicon photo-multipliers, managed by an unconventional front-end electronic system that is based on a customized peak-sensing detector mode. The system includes internal and external calibration systems, hardware and software for control and acquisition, and the complete data archiving and processing chain. These observations of the Crab Nebula were carried out in December 2018 during the telescope verification phase for a total observation time (after data selection) of 24.4 h, equally divided between on- and off-axis source exposure. The camera system was still under commission and its functionality was not yet completely exploited. Furthermore, due to recent eruptions of the Etna Volcano, the mirror reflection efficiency was reduced. Nevertheless, the observations led to the detection of the source with a statistical significance of 5.4 sigma above an energy threshold of similar to 3 TeV. This result provides an important step toward the use of dual-mirror systems in Cherenkov gamma-ray astronomy. A pathfinder mini-array based on nine ASTRI-like telescopes with a large field-of-view is in the course of implementation. (AU)

FAPESP's process: 13/10559-5 - Investigation of high energy and plasma astrophysics phenomena: theory, numerical simulations, observations, and instrument development for the Cherenkov Telescope Array (CTA)
Grantee:Elisabete Maria de Gouveia Dal Pino
Support Opportunities: Special Projects