Detection of Cherenkov light from air showers with Geiger-APDs

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates that Geiger-APDs can effectively detect Cherenkov light from air showers, offering significant efficiency improvements over traditional photomultiplier tubes in gamma-ray astronomy.

Contribution

The study introduces the use of Geiger-APDs for Cherenkov light detection, showing their advantages and higher efficiency in a real telescope setup.

Findings

G-APDs achieved 60% higher detection efficiency than MAGIC camera pixels.

Dark count rates of G-APDs are below night sky background levels.

G-APDs show promise for advancing ground-based gamma-ray astronomy.

Abstract

We have detected Cherenkov light from air showers with Geiger-mode APDs (G-APDs). G-APDs are novel semiconductor photon-detectors, which offer several advantages compared to conventional photomultiplier tubes in the field of ground-based gamma-ray astronomy. In a field test with the MAGIC telescope we have tested the efficiency of a G-APD / light catcher setup to detect Cherenkov light from air showers. We estimate a detection efficiency, which is 60% higher than the efficiency of a MAGIC camera pixel. Ambient temperature dark count rates of the tested G-APDs are below the rates of the night sky light background. According to these recent tests G-APDs promise a major progress in ground-based gamma-ray astronomy.