Abstract
We plan to construct an atmospheric Cherenkov telescope (ACT) at the south pole to study pulsars and other possible sources of very high energy gamma rays. It is believed that a modest number of such sources may account for the bulk of the cosmic radiation. The ACT is the instrument of choice for gamma ray study in the very high-energy (VHE) range of (10 11 < E < 10 14 eV). A prototype instrument is scheduled for installation at the pole during the 1989–90 austral summer. The south pole is an ideal location in several respects: (i) the long polar night permits almost continuous observation of a source, up to 400 hours per month, and up to 1700 hours/year; (ii) there is a particularly large concentration of interesting candidate sources at high southern declinations, including the remnant of supernova SN1987a; (iii) the circumpolarity of the sky simplifies data analysis; and (iv) the ACT would also operate in conjunction with the South Polar Air Shower Experiment (SPASE) to provide a comprehensive cosmic gamma ray facility.
Published Version
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