Very large zenith angle observations of VHE gamma-ray sources by IACT telescopes and development of the system for their precision pointing

doctoral thesis

• Title (croatian): Opažanja izvora gama zraka vrlo visokih energija IACT teleskopima pri velikim zenitnim kutovima i razvoj sustava za njihovo precizno usmjeravanje
• Author: Darko Zarić
• Mentor: Nikola Godinović (mentor)
• Committee member: Sanjin Benić (predsjednik povjerenstva)
• Committee member: Nikola Godinović (član povjerenstva)
• Committee member: Mihael Makek (član povjerenstva)
• Granter: University of Zagreb; Faculty of Science; (Department of Physics); Zagreb
• Defense date and country: 2022-01-21, Croatia
• Scientific / art field, discipline and subdiscipline: NATURAL SCIENCES; Physics
• Universal decimal classification (UDC): 53 - Physics

Abstract

The search for cosmic particle accelerators capable of reaching the PeV (10^15 eV) range, PeVatrons, is a key science objective for the very-high-energy (VHE) community (gammaray domain around TeV = 10^12 eV). As the PeV particles are accelerated, gamma rays in the ∼100 TeV range should be produced. Thus, investigations into this energy domain are necessary in the search for PeVatrons. For the purpose of identifying PeVatrons with the MAGIC telescopes a novel observational method of performing observations at very large zenith angles (≳ 70°) is introduced in the first part of the thesis. The goals and technical characteristics are explained, together with the benefits and drawbacks of the method. The performance of this observational method has been performed on the "standard candle" of the VHE gamma-ray astronomy, the Crab Nebula. After the Very Large Zenith Angle (VLZA) method was validated it was applied on two extended sources of VHE gamma-rays, MGRO J2019+37 and HESS J1809-193 which covers the second part of the thesis. Since the sources are extended a spatial likelihood analysis was performed on these sources. In the last part of the thesis a technical contribution to the (Large Size Telescope) LST-1 is presented called Camera Displacement Monitor (CDM). It is a system for monitoring the displacement of the LST-1 camera which I was in charge of implementing and testing. The software implementation is explained together with the tests performed in the laboratory and on site. From the technical observations the CDM performance was evaluated and the results show that the requirements are fullfilled and the CDM is capable of measuring the oscillations of LST-1 photomultiplier tube camera.

Abstract (croatian)

Potraga za izvorima kozmičkih zraka koji mogu ubrzati čestice do PeV (10^15 eV), tzv. PeVatroni, jedan je od ključnih ciljeva visokoenergijske astronomije gama zraka. Čestice ubrzane do energija ∼PeV bi trebale proizvesti gama zrake energija ∼100 TeV. Stoga istraživanja su nužna u ovom energetskom rasponu pri potrazi za PeVatronima. U svrhu identificiranje PeVatrona s MAGIC teleskopima nova metoda opservacije pri velikim zenitnim kutovima (≃ 70°) je predstavljena u prvom dijelu disertacije. Cilj i tehničke karakteristike su objašnjene, zajedno s prednostima i manama metode. Učinak ove metode opservacije je odrađen na "standardnoj svijeći" visokoenergijske astronomije, Maglici Rakovici. VLZA metoda je primijenjena i na 2 proširena izvora visokoenergijskih gama zraka, MGRO J2019+37 i HESS J1809-193 koji su obrađeni u drugom dijelu disertacije. Kako su izvori prošireni za njihovu analizu upotrijebljena je metoda prostorne maksimizacije vjerojatnosti. U zadnjem dijelu disertacije predstavljen je tehnički doprinos za LST-1 (Large Size Telescope) naziva Camera Displacement Monitor (CDM). To je sustav za nadziranje pomaka LST-1 kamere za koju sam bio zadužen za implementaciju i testiranje. Objašnjena je softverska implementacija zajedno s testovima izvršenim u laboratoriju i na mjestu instalacije. Iz tehničkih opservacija performanse CDM-a su procijenjene i rezultati pokazuju da su zahtjevi ispunjeni i CDM može mjeriti oscilacije LST-1 detektorske kamere.

• Keywords: gamma ray; Imaging Atmospheric Cherenkov Telescope; Crab Nebula; MGRO J2019+37; HESS J1809-193; Camera Displacement Monitor
• Keywords (english): Rad ne sadrži ključne riječi na drugom jeziku.
• Language: english
• URN:NBN: urn:nbn:hr:217:000900
• Promotion: 2022
• Study programme: Title: Physics; Study programme type: university; Study level: postgraduate; Academic / professional title: doktor/doktorica znanosti, područje prirodnih znanosti, polje fizika (doktor/doktorica znanosti, područje prirodnih znanosti, polje fizika)
• Type of resource: Text
• Extent: 212 str.
• File origin: Born digital
• Access conditions: Open access
• Created on: 2022-04-06 08:57:04