Support for UkraineSWGO is a planned next-generation observatory in South America, which will be located at high altitude, probably in Chile’s Atacama Astronomical Park (approx. 4770 m above sea level). It will be the first detector with steradian field of view in the southern hemisphere with close to 100% duty cycle (i.e., continuous observation).
The main principle of measurement is the detection of atmospheric showers of secondary particles that arise after the interaction of high-energy gamma radiation with the Earth’s atmosphere. SWGO will use an array of water Cherenkov detectors that will record Cherenkov radiation emitted by secondary particles in the detection volume of surface stations.
Thanks to its high altitude and extensive detection area, the observatory will be sensitive to energies ranging from hundreds of gigavolts (GeV) to the petaelectronvolt (PeV) scale, bridging the gap between satellite- and ground-based instruments. Its location in the southern hemisphere is also crucial, as it offers an unobstructed view of the richest and most interesting areas of our galaxy.
This includes the galactic centre, home to a central black hole, and the majority of the galactic plane. These are key locations for searching for cosmic accelerators. SWGO will complement the capabilities of other observatories using imaging Cherenkov telescopes, such as HAWC and LHAASO in the northern hemisphere, and will become a vital part of multi-messenger astronomy, monitoring variable and transient phenomena.
Our main task is to lead a group of analyses and simulations that provide estimates of sensitivity, angular and energy resolution for various configurations of the observatory under consideration. As part of its design, we are also looking for synergies with imaging Cherenkov telescopes potentially located directly on the observatory site, which would provide better control over its energy calibration and enable more detailed studies of transient events immediately after initial detection.
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