Experimental HEP Seminar

TeV Gamma Rays with the Milagro and HAWC experiments

Jim Linnemann

Michigan State University

I will describe the Milagro experiment, a TeV gamma ray observatory based on a surface array technique measuring cosmic ray cascade particles which reach ground level by detection of their Cherenkov light in water. The technique allows continuous observation of the sky 24 hours a day. This technique is particularly well adapted for surveys of the sky and for finding non-point sources. I will explain how the technique works in practice, how the gamma ray signal is extracted from the hadronic cosmic ray background, and show recent Milagro results. I will conclude by discussing the capabilities of the recently-proposed HAWC detector, a follow-up experiment to Milagro with 15-20 times the sensitivity.