Experimental HEP Seminars

Cosmic Rays, Star Spots and Aliens:
Some Alternative Applications of Atmospheric Cherenkov Telescopes

Jamie Holder

University of Delaware

Atmospheric Cherenkov telescopes (ACTs) consist of large mirror surfaces, of relatively crude optical quality, instrumented with extremely fast (~ns) photon detectors. Their primary function is to detect astrophysical sources of high energy (>100GeV) gamma-rays via the optical Cherenkov emission which results when these interact in the earth's atmosphere. I will discuss a few alternative applications of ACTs which are being explored by various groups, and which can increase the science yield from these facilities with little extra cost.