| 1. |
- Acharya, B. S., et al.
(författare)
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Introducing the CTA concept
- 2013
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Ingår i: Astroparticle physics. - : Elsevier BV. - 0927-6505 .- 1873-2852. ; 43, s. 3-18
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Tidskriftsartikel (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- The Cherenkov Telescope Array (CTA) is a new observatory for very high-energy (VHE) gamma rays. CTA has ambitions science goals, for which it is necessary to achieve full-sky coverage, to improve the sensitivity by about an order of magnitude, to span about four decades of energy, from a few tens of GeV to above 100 TeV with enhanced angular and energy resolutions over existing VHE gamma-ray observatories. An international collaboration has formed with more than 1000 members from 27 countries in Europe, Asia, Africa and North and South America. In 2010 the CTA Consortium completed a Design Study and started a three-year Preparatory Phase which leads to production readiness of CTA in 2014. In this paper we introduce the science goals and the concept of CTA, and provide an overview of the project. (C) 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
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| 2. |
- Actis, M., et al.
(författare)
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Design concepts for the Cherenkov Telescope Array CTA : an advanced facility for ground-based high-energy gamma-ray astronomy
- 2011
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Ingår i: Experimental astronomy. - : Springer. - 0922-6435 .- 1572-9508. ; 32:3, s. 193-316
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Ground-based gamma-ray astronomy has had a major breakthrough with the impressive results obtained using systems of imaging atmospheric Cherenkov telescopes. Ground-based gamma-ray astronomy has a huge potential in astrophysics, particle physics and cosmology. CTA is an international initiative to build the next generation instrument, with a factor of 5-10 improvement in sensitivity in the 100 GeV-10 TeV range and the extension to energies well below 100 GeV and above 100 TeV. CTA will consist of two arrays (one in the north, one in the south) for full sky coverage and will be operated as open observatory. The design of CTA is based on currently available technology. This document reports on the status and presents the major design concepts of CTA.
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| 3. |
- Abramowski, A., et al.
(författare)
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The 2010 very high energy gamma-RAY flare and 10 years of multi-wavelength observations of M 87
- 2012
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Ingår i: Astrophysical Journal. - 0004-637X .- 1538-4357. ; 746:2, s. 151-
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The giant radio galaxy M 87 with its proximity (16 Mpc), famous jet, and very massive black hole ((3-6) x 10(9) M-circle dot) provides a unique opportunity to investigate the origin of very high energy (VHE; E > 100 GeV) gamma-ray emission generated in relativistic outflows and the surroundings of supermassive black holes. M 87 has been established as a VHE gamma-ray emitter since 2006. The VHE gamma-ray emission displays strong variability on timescales as short as a day. In this paper, results from a joint VHE monitoring campaign on M 87 by the MAGIC and VERITAS instruments in 2010 are reported. During the campaign, a flare at VHE was detected triggering further observations at VHE (H.E.S.S.), X-rays (Chandra), and radio (43 GHz Very Long Baseline Array, VLBA). The excellent sampling of the VHE gamma-ray light curve enables one to derive a precise temporal characterization of the flare: the single, isolated flare is well described by a two-sided exponential function with significantly different flux rise and decay times of tau(rise)(d) = (1.69 +/- 0.30) days and tau(decay)(d) = (0.611 +/- 0.080) days, respectively. While the overall variability pattern of the 2010 flare appears somewhat different from that of previous VHE flares in 2005 and 2008, they share very similar timescales (similar to day), peak fluxes (Phi(>0.35 TeV) similar or equal to (1-3) x 10(-11) photons cm(-2) s(-1)), and VHE spectra. VLBA radio observations of 43 GHz of the inner jet regions indicate no enhanced flux in 2010 in contrast to observations in 2008, where an increase of the radio flux of the innermost core regions coincided with a VHE flare. On the other hand, Chandra X-ray observations taken similar to 3 days after the peak of the VHE gamma-ray emission reveal an enhanced flux from the core (flux increased by factor similar to 2; variability timescale <2 days). The long-term (2001-2010) multi-wavelength (MWL) light curve of M 87, spanning from radio to VHE and including data from Hubble Space Telescope, Liverpool Telescope, Very Large Array, and European VLBI Network, is used to further investigate the origin of the VHE gamma-ray emission. No unique, common MWL signature of the three VHE flares has been identified. In the outer kiloparsec jet region, in particular in HST-1, no enhanced MWL activity was detected in 2008 and 2010, disfavoring it as the origin of the VHE flares during these years. Shortly after two of the three flares (2008 and 2010), the X-ray core was observed to be at a higher flux level than its characteristic range (determined from more than 60 monitoring observations: 2002-2009). In 2005, the strong flux dominance of HST-1 could have suppressed the detection of such a feature. Published models for VHE gamma-ray emission from M 87 are reviewed in the light of the new data.
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| 4. |
- Acciari, V. A., et al.
(författare)
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Radio Imaging of the Very-High-Energy gamma-Ray Emission Region in the Central Engine of a Radio Galaxy
- 2009
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Ingår i: Science. - : American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS). - 0036-8075 .- 1095-9203. ; 325:5939, s. 444-448
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The accretion of matter onto a massive black hole is believed to feed the relativistic plasma jets found in many active galactic nuclei (AGN). Although some AGN accelerate particles to energies exceeding 10(12) electron volts and are bright sources of very-high-energy (VHE) gamma-ray emission, it is not yet known where the VHE emission originates. Here we report on radio and VHE observations of the radio galaxy Messier 87, revealing a period of extremely strong VHE gamma-ray flares accompanied by a strong increase of the radio flux from its nucleus. These results imply that charged particles are accelerated to very high energies in the immediate vicinity of the black hole.
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| 5. |
- Aleksic, J., et al.
(författare)
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DETECTION OF VERY HIGH ENERGY gamma-RAY EMISSION FROM THE PERSEUS CLUSTER HEAD-TAIL GALAXY IC 310 BY THE MAGIC TELESCOPES
- 2010
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Ingår i: The Astrophysical Journal Letters. - 2041-8205. ; 723:2, s. l207-L212
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- We report on the detection with the MAGIC telescopes of very high energy (VHE) gamma-rays from IC 310, a head-tail radio galaxy in the Perseus galaxy cluster, observed during the interval 2008 November to 2010 February. The Fermi satellite has also detected this galaxy. The source is detected by MAGIC at a high statistical significance of 7.6 sigma in 20.6 hr of stereo data. The observed spectral energy distribution is flat with a differential spectral index of -2.00 +/- 0.14. The mean flux above 300 GeV, between 2009 October and 2010 February, (3.1 +/- 0.5) x 10(-12) cm(-2) s(-1), corresponds to (2.5 +/- 0.4)% of Crab Nebula units. Only an upper limit, of 1.9% of Crab Nebula units above 300 GeV, was obtained with the 2008 data. This, together with strong hints (>3 sigma) of flares in the middle of 2009 October and November, implies that the emission is variable. The MAGIC results favor a scenario with the VHE emission originating from the inner jet close to the central engine. More complicated models than a simple one-zone synchrotron self-Compton (SSC) scenario, e. g., multi-zone SSC, external Compton, or hadronic, may be required to explain the very flat spectrum and its extension over more than three orders of magnitude in energy.
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| 6. |
- Aleksic, J., et al.
(författare)
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PG 1553+113 : FIVE YEARS OF OBSERVATIONS WITH MAGIC
- 2012
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Ingår i: Astrophysical Journal. - 0004-637X .- 1538-4357. ; 748:1, s. 46-
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- We present the results of five years (2005-2009) of MAGIC observations of the BL Lac object PG 1553+113 at very high energies (VHEs; E > 100 GeV). Power-law fits of the individual years are compatible with a steady mean photon index Gamma = 4.27 +/- 0.14. In the last three years of data, the flux level above 150 GeV shows a clear variability (probability of constant flux < 0.001%). The flux variations are modest, lying in the range from 4% to 11% of the Crab Nebula flux. Simultaneous optical data also show only modest variability that seems to be correlated with VHE gamma-ray variability. We also performed a temporal analysis of (all available) simultaneous Fermi/Large Area Telescope data of PG 1553+113 above 1 GeV, which reveals hints of variability in the 2008-2009 sample. Finally, we present a combination of the mean spectrum measured at VHEs with archival data available for other wavelengths. The mean spectral energy distribution can be modeled with a one-zone synchrotron self-Compton model, which gives the main physical parameters governing the VHE emission in the blazar jet.
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| 7. |
- Shayduk, M., et al.
(författare)
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Light sensors selection for the Cherenkov Telescope Array : PMT and SiPM
- 2012
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Ingår i: Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research Section A. - : Elsevier BV. - 0168-9002 .- 1872-9576. ; 695, s. 109-112
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The Cherenkov Telescope Array (CIA) is planned as the next generation ground-based instrument (after VERITAS, H.E.S.S. and MAGIC) for astrophysics by means of very high energy gamma-rays. The CIA collaboration includes the MAGIC, the H.E.S.S. and the VERITAS collaborations. Also, a large number of astrophysicists from European institutions, from Japan and USA have joined the CIA. The CIA array will comprise about 100 imaging telescopes of three sizes that shall provide one order of magnitude higher sensitivity than the current generation of telescopes. Every telescope will use an imaging camera based on similar to 2000 PMTs. We have set up a PMT development program with Hamamatsu (Japan) and Electron Tube Enterprises (England) aiming to produce 1.5 in. PMTs of optimized parameters for the CIA project. The entire scientific community, including the medicine and biology, as well as many industrial applications, where a low light level sensors are necessary, may profit from it. Together with PMTs also SiPMs are interesting sensor candidates for the CIA telescopes. One expects about two times higher photon detection efficiency for SiPM compared to PMT. A set of parameters like the photon detection efficiency, cross-talk, afterpulsing, dark rate together with other important factors were evaluated. Here we report on the progress of these developments, based on detailed measurements.
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| 8. |
- Bernloehr, K., et al.
(författare)
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Monte Carlo design studies for the Cherenkov Telescope Array
- 2013
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Ingår i: Astroparticle physics. - : Elsevier. - 0927-6505 .- 1873-2852. ; 43, s. 171-188
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The Cherenkov Telescopes Array (CTA) is planned as the future instrument for very-high-energy (VHE) gamma-ray astronomy with a wide energy range of four orders of magnitude and an improvement in sensitivity compared to current instruments of about an order of magnitude. Monte Carlo simulations are a crucial tool in the design of CTA. The ultimate goal of these simulations is to find the most cost-effective solution for given physics goals and thus sensitivity goals or to find, for a given cost, the solution best suited for different types of targets with CTA. Apart from uncertain component cost estimates, the main problem in this procedure is the dependence on a huge number of configuration parameters, both in specifications of individual telescope types and in the array layout. This is addressed by simulation of a huge array intended as a superset of many different realistic array layouts, and also by simulation of array subsets for different telescope parameters. Different analysis methods - in use with current installations and extended (or developed specifically) for CTA - are applied to the simulated data sets for deriving the expected sensitivity of CTA. In this paper we describe the current status of this iterative approach to optimize the CTA design and layout. (C) 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
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| 9. |
- Duarte, N., et al.
(författare)
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Calibration procedures and data correction of ePix100 detectors at the European XFEL
- 2023
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Ingår i: Journal of Instrumentation. - 1748-0221. ; 18:11
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The European XFEL is a research facility that delivers extremely bright and short coherent X-ray pulses of tunable energy at MHz repetition rate, providing unprecedented capabilities to conduct scientific research across multiple domains. Among the suite of deployed detectors, several ePix100 modules, belonging to the family of ePix detectors developed at SLAC, are used. These charge-integrating hybrid pixel detectors offer single-photon resolution for energies above 2 keV and a dynamic range of 100 photons at 8 keV. Their low noise, small pixel size, compact dimensions, maneuverability and vacuum compatibility make them an attractive choice for some of the hard X-ray instruments at the European XFEL for imaging, spectroscopy, and scattering experiments. The European XFEL is committed to providing users with completely corrected detector data. To achieve this goal, periodic calibration procedures are conducted to generate calibration constants that allow the conversion of raw detector output into physically meaningful information through a series of successive data correction steps. In this work, an overview of the ePix100 calibration procedures and correction algorithms will be provided, with a focus on particularly relevant processes for this detector, such as common mode noise and charge sharing correction.
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| 10. |
- Klačková, I., et al.
(författare)
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Five years operation experience with the AGIPD detectors at the European XFEL
- 2023
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Ingår i: Proceedings of SPIE - The International Society for Optical Engineering. - : SPIE - International Society for Optical Engineering. - 9781510662827
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Konferensbidrag (refereegranskat)abstract
- The European X-ray Free Electron Laser (EuXFEL) began its user operation five years ago, opening and offering new research possibilities. The facility delivers high brilliance, ultra-short, spatially coherent X-ray pulses with a high repetition rate to six instruments (FXE, SPB/SFX, MID, HED, SCS and SQS) by means of three different beamlines (SASE 1, SASE 2 and SASE 3). One of the first detectors used for early-stage experiments was the Adaptive Gain Integrating Pixel Detector (AGIPD), custom designed to meet the challenging needs of scientific instruments. The AGIPD is a megahertz-rate integrating hybrid megapixel camera with a per-pixel adaptive gain amplification, allowing the integration of up to 104 of 12 keV photons per pixel in its low gain stage. Currently, three scientific instruments, namely SPB/SFX, MID and HED employ the AGIPD systems, the latter mentioned using a prototype, half-megapixel camera with an upgraded version of readout ASICs. The AGIPDs at EuXFEL are successfully used for experimental techniques like serial femtosecond crystallography, MHz single particle imaging, MHz X-ray photon correlation spectroscopy or MHz diffraction of materials under high pressures in a diamond anvil cell. Since September 2017, the AGIPD is continuously used and has become an established detector technology, with further advancements and developments planned. Delivering quality experimental data requires reliable and reproducible detector characterisation and calibration that have to be performed regularly with a continuous improvement of correction methods in close collaboration with scientific instruments. This work summarises five years of experience operating the AGIPD detectors at the EuXFEL scientific instruments. It gives an overview of scientific capabilities and examples of successful studies performed with AGIPD detectors. Moreover, challenges concerning detector calibration and characterisation are presented.
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