甚高能γ射线天文观测的利器-成像大气切伦科夫望远镜

The achievements in very high energy (VHE) gamma-ray astronomy observations from the ground are largely inseparable from the development of imaging atmospheric Cherenkov telescope technology. The concept of atmospheric Cherenkov technology was proposed in the 1950s, achieved important breakthroughs in the late 1980s and early 1990s, and gradually matured in the early 21st century. The stereoscopic imaging atmospheric Cherenkov telescope array has become a key detection technology for ground-based VHE gamma-ray astronomy observations with its good angular resolution, energy resolution, and excellent gamma/hadron discrimination ability, and is widely used in existing and planned ground-based gamma-ray detections. An overview of the development history and current status of imaging atmospheric Cherenkov technology is presented, including the current status of ground-based VHE gamma-ray detections, the detection principle of atmospheric Cherenkov telescopes, technological evolution, currently typical imaging atmospheric Cherenkov telescope arrays, future development, etc.

地基甚高能(very high energy,VHE)射线天文观测成果的取得,很大程度上与成像大气切伦科夫望远镜技术发展密不可分。大气切伦科夫技术概念于20世纪50年代提出,20世纪80年代末和20世纪90年代初取得重要突破,21世纪初逐步发展成熟。立体成像大气切伦科夫望远镜阵列以其良好的角度分辨率、能量分辨能力和优异的γ/p鉴别能力成为地基VHE γ射线天文观测关键探测技术,在现有和计划中的γ射线地基探测中被广泛使用。对成像大气切伦科夫技术发展历史和现状作了概述,包括地基VHE γ射线探测现状、大气切伦科夫望远镜探测原理、技术演进、目前典型的成像大气切伦科夫望远镜阵列、未来发展等内容。