Observation of High Gamma Ray Sources from the South Pole

这是一个项目的延续，开发和经营空气 南极站的切伦科夫望远镜， 研究离散的天体物理甚高能量源（VHE） 伽马射线 该项目被称为南极伽马（GASP）， 第二阶段是GASP II。 主要工具包括 一个抛物面镜阵列，光电倍增管在其 焦点，它可以检测来自VHE相互作用的光， 大气的体积。 这个实验将揭示 宇宙射线的起源和可能的外来辐射源， 如果这种辐射存在。 GASP补充了先前存在的南极空气簇射实验 （SPASE），由巴托尔研究所运营， 特拉华州大学和利兹大学（英国），并延伸到 将能量阈值降低两到三个数量级 的空间。 SPASE可以调查南部天空的大部分，GASP将 能够专注于可疑活动的小区域。 南极的位置允许GASP查看单个对象， 延长的时间（数周至数月）， 大气层，而中纬度地区只允许几个小时的 在给定对象的时间查看。 极地的位置也意味着 非常有趣的南方高空的天空 这使GASP比任何中型企业都有很大的优势。 纬度观测站 该项目是威斯康星州大学的合作项目， 普渡大学巴托尔研究所 特拉华州和史密森天体物理天文台。 联手 由美国国家科学基金会极地项目部资助，威斯康星州校友 史密森天体物理观测站（Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory）。

This is a continuation of a project to develop and operate air Cherenkov telescopes at South Pole Station for the purpose of studying discreet astrophysical sources of very high energy (VHE) gamma rays. The project is called Gammas At South Pole (GASP), and this second phase is GASP II. The primary instrument consists of an array of parabolic mirrors, with photomultiplier tubes at their foci, which can detect light from VHE interactions in a small volume of the atmosphere. The experiment will shed light on the origin of cosmic rays and possibly on sources of exotic radiation, if such radiation exists. GASP complements the pre-existing South Pole Air Shower Experiment (SPASE), which is operated by the Bartol Research Institute of the University of Delaware and Leeds University (UK), and extends downward by two to three orders of magnitude the energy threshold of SPASE. SPASE can survey most of the southern sky, and GASP will be able to focus on small regions of suspected activity. The location at South Pole allows GASP to view a single object for extended periods (weeks to months) through a constant thickness of atmosphere, while mid-latitude locations allow only a few hours of viewing at a time of a given object. The Polar location also means that the very interesting high declination southern sky is always within view, which gives GASP a great advantage over any mid- latitude observatory. The project is a collaboration of the University of Wisconsin, Purdue University, Bartol Research Institute of the University of Delaware and Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory. It is jointly funded by NSF's Divisions of Polar Programs, the Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation and the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory.