Observation of Very High Energy Gamma Ray Sources from the South Pole (GASP)

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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 Gamma-ray Astronomy at South Pole (GASP). 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 is expected to 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 and the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory. It is jointly funded by NSF's Office of Polar Programs and the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory.