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arXiv · 0712.1592

Detection of Cherenkov light from air showers with Geiger-APDs

A. N. Otte·I. Britvitch·A. Biland·F. Goebel·E. Lorenz·F. Pauss·D. Renker·U. Roeser·T. Schweizer
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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.

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A. N. Otte, I. Britvitch, A. Biland, F. Goebel, E. Lorenz, F. Pauss, D. Renker, U. Roeser, T. Schweizer. 2007-12-10. Detection of Cherenkov light from air showers with Geiger-APDs. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nima.2009.05.083

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