The CANGAROO Project: Very High Energy Gamma-ray Astronomy at Woomera

In this paper the Very High Energy (VHE) gamma-ray astronomy program at the University of Adelaide is described. VHE gamma rays with energies above ~5 × 1011eV are observed using the atmospheric Cerenkov technique. Results from the first three years observations at Woomera and the current upgrading of the telecope are described. The CANGAROO project, a collaboration between the University of Adelaide and a number of Japanese institutions, is also introduced.

An Experiment for Observing VHE Gamma Ray Sources

An apparatus design is described. It is for detecting VHE gamma ray point sources by means of the atmospheric Cerenkov technique. Obviously, the improvement of flux sensitivity and discrimination between gamma ray and isotropic proton showers is still a key problem. Of course, it is necessary to set up more observatories and to track an object continuously with several facilities. With this in mind, we decided to develop an experiment for observing VHE gamma ray sources in China. As a first step, we will set up an apparatus which consists of three 1.5 m diameter searchlight morrors at Xinglong station of Beijing Observatory, Xinglong county, Hebei province (40°. 4N, 117°.5E, altitude 940 m). The observation will start in 1988. Then, the second apparatus will be set up at Delingha station of Purple Mountain Observatory, Delingha county, Qinghai porvince (37°.22N, altitude 3204 m). Both the sites are far from air and light pollution, and have suitable meteological condition for Cerenkov light detection as well as quite convenient facilities for transportation. Some probable technical improvements are also discussed in this paper.

High Energy Gamma Rays from Pulsars

We present here the results from observations of pulsed gamma ray emission from the Crab and Vela pulsars for energies above 100 GeV using the atmospheric Cerenkov technique. The results suggest a very steep energy spectrum for gamma rays emitted from pulsars at high energies. Our observations over the last 4 years suggest also that the flux is highly variable with time.