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Content archived on 2024-06-18

Probing cosmic accelerators through atmospheric calibration and precision very-high-energy gamma-ray spectroscopy

Objective

Very-high-energy (VHE; 50 GeV < E < 100 TeV) gamma-ray telescopes observe cosmic particle accelerators, probing fundamental acceleration processes at energies far beyond those achievable at terrestrial accelerators and in extreme environments such as supernova remnants, pulsars, pulsar winds, and the Galactic Center. The upgraded H.E.S.S.-II telescope array saw first light in July 2012 and represents the cutting edge of the imaging atmospheric Cherenkov technique that enables observations of VHE gamma rays from ground-based facilities. This project will take advantage of the new data from H.E.S.S.-II now the largest such telescope, with an unprecedented sensitivity to gamma-rays, in particular at low energies (50 < E < 150 GeV) which were previously beyond reach. Access to this key energy range will allow us to search for pulsed VHE emission from energetic pulsars, such as that unexpectedly observed from the Crab pulsar in 2011. It will also permit us to investigate the very recent yet mounting evidence for gamma-ray spectral lines from the Galactic Center and unassociated sources seen by the Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope. Utilizing an inter-disciplinary approach, we will integrate a monitoring LIDAR system with H.E.S.S.-II to directly calibrate the telescope data using grid-produced Monte Carlo simulations based on real-time, measured atmospheric properties. The implementation of an atmospheric monitoring and calibration program for H.E.S.S.-II and the next-generation Cherenkov Telescope Array is expected to improve energy resolution, reduce spectral bias, and minimize systematic uncertainties. The improvements provided by this project aim not only to address our specific research questions but also to provide, for the first time, the precision VHE gamma-ray spectroscopy required to further elucidate the underlying mechanisms responsible for gamma-ray production in the cosmos.

Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)

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Topic(s)

Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.

Call for proposal

Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.

FP7-PEOPLE-2012-IEF
See other projects for this call

Funding Scheme

Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.

MC-IEF - Intra-European Fellowships (IEF)

Coordinator

CENTRE NATIONAL DE LA RECHERCHE SCIENTIFIQUE CNRS
EU contribution
€ 194 046,60
Total cost

The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.

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