Support for UkraineCosmic gamma-ray physics is key to studying the most energetic phenomena in the universe, such as supernovae and active galactic nuclei, and helps to reveal the sources of cosmic rays. The main challenges include the need for higher sensitivity and resolution to detect faint sources and the need to distinguish gamma photons from hadronic background.
CTAO is a new generation of high-sensitivity observatories using imaging atmospheric Cherenkov telescopes, with a wide energy range (20 GeV to 300 TeV) and the ability to rapidly map the sky. It will consist of two arrays of dozens of telescopes in the northern (Canary Islands) and southern (Chile) hemispheres.
CTAO will contribute significantly to solving problems by discovering thousands of new gamma sources and better exploring particle acceleration mechanisms thanks to its high sensitivity and resolution. This will enable mapping of the Galaxy in gamma radiation, detailed study of individual sources, and search for dark matter. The telescopes use the atmosphere as a detector and record Cherenkov radiation induced by secondary particles.
As this observatory is in the phase of developing the first telescope prototypes (currently measuring the first LST telescope prototype on La Palma), we are participating in their construction and initial data analysis. The main goal of our research is to understand the relationship between cosmic ray particle sources and gamma radiation.