Gamma-ray astronomy with H.E.S.S

Abstract

H.E.S.S. is an array of imaging atmospheric Cherenkov telescopes for ground based gamma-ray astronomy. Consisting of four telescopes with 107m2 mirror area each, operational since 10 years, and a new 600m2 telescope in the center of the array, it uses Cherenkov light emitted by gamma-ray induced particle showers in the atmosphere to investigate high-energy phenomena in the universe. H.E.S.S. has discovered of the order of 60% of all very-high energy gamma-ray sources. Recent results cover physics topics like the acceleration of cosmic rays in supernova remnants, the interaction of cosmic rays with molecular clouds, or the acceleration and the emission processes in binary systems. Other topics covered are the physics of relativistic flows in pulsar wind nebulae and extra-galactic objects like AGN or radio galaxies as well as exotic physics like the search for axions.