First detection of gamma rays from the Crab nebula with the CELESTE "solarfarm" Cherenkov detector

Authors
Smith, DA Bazer-Bachi, R Bergeret, H Bruel, P Cordier, A Debiais, G de Naurois, M Dezalay, JP Dumora, D Eschstruth, P Espigat, P Fabre, B Fleury, P Giebels, B Herault, N Holder, J Hrabovsky, M Legallou, R Malet, I Merkel, B Munz, F Musquere, A Olive, JF Pare, E Quebert, J Reposeur, T Rob, L Sako, T Schovanek, P Volte, S
Citation
Da. Smith et al., First detection of gamma rays from the Crab nebula with the CELESTE "solarfarm" Cherenkov detector, NUCL PH B-P, 80, 2000, pp. 163-172
Citations number
18
Categorie Soggetti
Physics
Journal title
NUCLEAR PHYSICS B-PROCEEDINGS SUPPLEMENTS
ISSN journal
09205632 → ACNP
Volume
80
Year of publication
2000
Pages
163 - 172
Database
ISI
SICI code
0920-5632(200001)80:<163:FDOGRF>2.0.ZU;2-5
Abstract
We have converted the THEMIS solar array (French Pyrenees) into an atmosphe ric Cherenkov telescope, called CELESTE, sensitive to astrophysical gamma r ays above 30 GeV (7 x 10(24) HZ). In early 1998 the Crab nebula was detecte d at 80 GeV with a preliminary 18 heliostat setup. The full 40 heliostat ar ray has since been commissioned. The STACEE experiment using the same techn ique in New Mexico is also analysing their first data. Thus, the window bet ween the EGRET instrument and the Cherenkov imagers has been opened. We des cribe the CELESTE detector and the data analysis, and discuss the prospects for studying AGN (specifically, blazars) and galactic sources in this ener gy range.