The STACEE ground-based gamma-ray detector

Author

Gingrich, D.M. ; Boone, L.M. ; Bramel, D. ; Carson, J. ; Covault, C.E. ; Fortin, P. ; Hanna, D.S. ; Hinton, J.A. ; Jarvis, A. ; Kildea, J. ; Lindner, T. ; Mueller, C. ; Mukherjee, R. ; Ong, R.A. ; Ragan, K. ; Scalzo, R.A. ; Théoret, C.G. ; Williams, D.A.

Author_Institution

Centre for Subatomic Res., Univ. of Alberta, Vancouver, BC

Volume

52

Issue

6

fYear

2005

Firstpage

2977

Lastpage

2985

Abstract

We describe the design and performance of the Solar Tower Atmospheric Cherenkov Effect Experiment (STACEE) in its complete configuration. STACEE uses the heliostats of a solar energy research facility to collect and focus the Cherenkov photons produced in gamma-ray induced air showers. The light is concentrated onto an array of photomultiplier tubes located near the top of a tower. The large Cherenkov photon collection area of STACEE results in a gamma-ray energy threshold below that of previous ground-based detectors. STACEE is being used to observe pulsars, supernova remnants, active galactic nuclei, and gamma-ray bursts

Keywords

Cherenkov counters; active galaxies; cosmic ray apparatus; cosmic ray showers; galactic nuclei; gamma-ray astronomy; gamma-ray bursts; gamma-ray detection; photomultipliers; pulsars; solar energy concentrators; supernova remnants; Cherenkov photon collection area; STACEE; active galactic nuclei; coincidence detection; delay circuit; gamma-ray astronomy detectors; gamma-ray bursts; gamma-ray energy; gamma-ray induced air showers; ground-based gamma-ray detector; heliostats; photomultiplier tubes; pulsars; solar energy research facility; solar tower atmospheric Cherenkov effect experiment; supernova remnants; Astronomy; Gamma ray detection; Gamma ray detectors; Gamma rays; Physics; Poles and towers; Solar energy; Space technology; Telescopes; USA Councils; Cherenkov detectors; Gamma-ray astronomy detectors; coincidence detection; cosmic rays; delay circuit; triggering;

fLanguage

English

Journal_Title

Nuclear Science, IEEE Transactions on

Publisher

ieee

ISSN

0018-9499

Type

jour

DOI

10.1109/TNS.2005.855705

Filename

1589309