# Massive Argon Space Telescope (MAST): a concept of heavy time projection chamber for gamma-ray astronomy in the 100 MeV --- 1 TeV energy range

## TL;DR

The paper proposes the MAST telescope, a liquid Argon TPC designed for gamma-ray astronomy from 100 MeV to 1 TeV, promising significantly improved sensitivity and resolution over Fermi-LAT.

## Contribution

It introduces a novel telescope concept using liquid Argon TPC technology with a feasible design and performance advantages for gamma-ray astronomy.

## Key findings

- Effective area and sensitivity about ten times better than Fermi-LAT.
- Angular resolution 3-10 times better than Fermi-LAT.
- Energy resolution of approximately 20% at 100 MeV and 6-10% at higher energies.

## Abstract

We explore the concept of liquid Argon time projection chamber (TPC) for gamma-ray astronomy in the 100 MeV --- 1 TeV energy range. We propose a basic layout for such a telescope called MAST. Using a last-generation rocket such as Falcon Heavy, it is possible to launch a detector with the effective area and the differential sensitivity about one order of magnitude better than the Fermi-LAT ones. At the same time, the MAST concept allows for an excellent angular resolution, 3-10 times better than the Fermi-LAT one depending on the energy, and good energy resolution ($\approx$ 20 % at 100 MeV and 6-10 % for the 10 GeV --- 1 TeV energy range). We show that such a telescope would be instrumental in a broad range of long-standing astrophysical problems.