SWGO: a wide-field of view gamma-ray observatory in the southern hemisphere

Abstract

Abstract The recent LHAASO and HAWC results opened the way to the search of gamma ray sources emitting at energies above 100 TeV. Both detectors are in the northern hemisphere; the need for such an observatory in the southern hemisphere is therefore clear. The goal of the SWGO collaboration is the construction of a wide field of view, high duty cycle observatory to explore the Southern hemisphere sky searching for gamma ray sources at energies above 100 GeV. Such an array will detect extensive air showers particles and must be able to select the photon originated showers from the background of the hadronic ones. The experiment must be located in a site at latitude between 10° and 30° degrees south and at an altitude above 4400 m a.s.l. The baseline detection technique chosen by the collaboration is Water Cherenkov Detectors. The array will have a central region with high fill factor (>60%) and a large (about 1 km2) outer region with a much lower fill factor (around 4–5%).