Improving the gamma-ray detection sensitivity of the Cherenkov Telescope Array to discover dark matter and Galactic PeVatrons

• Project/Area Number: 18KK0384
• Research Category: Fund for the Promotion of Joint International Research (Fostering Joint International Research (A))
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Particle/Nuclear/Cosmic ray/Astro physics
• Research Institution: Nagoya University
• Principal Investigator: 奥村 曉 名古屋大学, 宇宙地球環境研究所, 講師 (90645011)
• Project Period (FY): 2019 – 2023
• Project Status: Completed (Fiscal Year 2023)
• Budget Amount: ¥15,600,000 (Direct Cost: ¥12,000,000、Indirect Cost: ¥3,600,000)
• Keywords: 宇宙線物理学 / ガンマ線天文学 / 半導体光検出器 / ガンマ線 / 宇宙線 / CTA / SiPM / チェレンコフ望遠鏡アレイ / 暗黒物質 / 地上チェレンコフ望遠鏡

Outline of Annual Research Achievements

本研究では2つの研究活動を進めた。1つ目はドイツのマックスプランク核物理学研究所（MPIK）との共同研究により半導体光検出器SiPMを用いたガンマ線望遠鏡用の焦点面カメラを開発することである。次世代の地上ガンマ線望遠鏡計画CTAの小口径望遠鏡でこの焦点面カメラを使用することにより、銀河系内の宇宙線加速天体の発見が期待されている。本研究ではMPIKへの長期滞在を3回に渡り実施し、焦点面カメラ試作機の性能試験、ソフトウェア開発を国際共同で行った。また名古屋大学では焦点面カメラの構成要素、特に半導体光検出器の性能試験やシミュレーションを行った。2つ目の研究は、CTAの大口径望遠鏡によるガンマ線観測およびMAGIC望遠鏡によるガンマ線観測である。この目的のため、スペイン・ラパルマ島に設置されている両望遠鏡の観測に参加した。またコロナ禍の間は海外研究機関への渡航が制限されたため、研究費の一部を技術補佐員の雇用経費にすることで実験室で進められる装置性能評価などを行った。またラパルマ島への渡航の代わりにオンラインによるガンマ線観測体制の構築を進め、長期出張の代替手段として研究遂行を継続した。以上の研究により、CTA小口径望遠鏡の焦点面カメラの設計や性能評価を終え、試作機開発の段階から量産の直前の段階にまで技術開発を進めることができた。このうち2023年度は、月光下でのガンマ線観測を見据えた大光量下でのSiPMの特性評価、多層膜コーティングを用いた大気チェレンコフ光の集光性能向上、CTA小口径望遠鏡の光学系シミュレーション、ガンマ線観測データの新しい解析手法の提案など、国際会議や物理学会などで成果報告を行った。

Research Products

• [Int'l Joint Research] ロケ・デ・ロス・ムチャーチョス天文台(スペイン) (2020)
• [Int'l Joint Research] マックスプランク核物理学研究所(ドイツ) (2019)
• [Journal Article] Silicon photomultipliers for the SST camera of the Cherenkov Telescope Array (2024)
  • Author(s): Depaoli D.、Lapington J.、Leach S.、Okumura A.、Sofia I.、Tajima H. et al.
  • Journal Title: Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research Section A: Accelerators, Spectrometers, Detectors and Associated Equipment Volume: 1060 Pages: 169047-169047
  • DOI: 10.1016/j.nima.2023.169047
  • Peer Reviewed / Open Access / Int'l Joint Research
• [Journal Article] Multi-year characterisation of the broad-band emission from the intermittent extreme BL Lac 1ES 2344+514 (2024)
  • Author(s): MAGIC Collaboration:Abe H., Kushida J., Nishijima K., et al.
  • Journal Title: Astronomy & Astrophysics Volume: 682
  • DOI: 10.1051/0004-6361/202347845
  • Peer Reviewed / Open Access / Int'l Joint Research
• [Journal Article] MAGIC detection of GRB 201216C at z= 1.1 (2023)
  • Author(s): H. Abe et al.
  • Journal Title: Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society Volume: 527 Issue: 3 Pages: 5856-5867
  • DOI: 10.1093/mnras/stad2958
  • Peer Reviewed / Open Access / Int'l Joint Research
• [Journal Article] Performance of the joint LST-1 and MAGIC observations evaluated with Crab Nebula data (2023)
  • Author(s): Abe H.、Abe K.、Abe S.、et al.
  • Journal Title: Astronomy & Astrophysics Volume: 680 Pages: A66-A66
  • DOI: 10.1051/0004-6361/202346927
  • Peer Reviewed / Open Access / Int'l Joint Research
• [Journal Article] Star tracking for pointing determination of Imaging Atmospheric Cherenkov Telescopes (2023)
  • Author(s): K. Abe, et al.
  • Journal Title: Astronomy & Astrophysics Volume: 679 Pages: A90-A90
  • DOI: 10.1051/0004-6361/202347128
  • Peer Reviewed / Open Access / Int'l Joint Research
• [Journal Article] Observations of the Crab Nebula and Pulsar with the Large-sized Telescope Prototype of the Cherenkov Telescope Array (2023)
  • Author(s): Abe H.、Abe K.、Abe S.、et al.
  • Journal Title: The Astrophysical Journal Volume: 956 Issue: 2 Pages: 80-80
  • DOI: 10.3847/1538-4357/ace89d
  • Peer Reviewed / Open Access / Int'l Joint Research
• [Journal Article] Sensitivity of the Cherenkov Telescope Array to TeV photon emission from the Large Magellanic Cloud (2023)
  • Author(s): Acharyya A、Adam R、Aguasca-Cabot A、et al.
  • Journal Title: Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society Volume: 523 Issue: 4 Pages: 5353-5387
  • DOI: 10.1093/mnras/stad1576
  • Peer Reviewed / Open Access / Int'l Joint Research
• [Journal Article] Sensitivity of the Cherenkov Telescope Array to spectral signatures of hadronic PeVatrons with application to Galactic Supernova Remnants (2023)
  • Author(s): TheCherenkov Telescope Array Consortium, Acero F., Acharyya A., Adam R. et al.
  • Journal Title: Astroparticle Physics Volume: 150 Pages: 102850-102850
  • DOI: 10.1016/j.astropartphys.2023.102850
  • Peer Reviewed / Open Access / Int'l Joint Research
• [Journal Article] Multimessenger Characterization of Markarian 501 during Historically Low X-Ray and γ-Ray Activity (2023)
  • Author(s): MAGIC Collaboration:Abe H., Kushida J., Nishijima K., et al.
  • Journal Title: The Astrophysical Journal Supplement Series Volume: 266 Issue: 2 Pages: 37-37
  • DOI: 10.3847/1538-4365/acc181
  • Peer Reviewed / Open Access / Int'l Joint Research
• [Journal Article] Multiwavelength study of the galactic PeVatron candidate LHAASO J2108+5157 (2023)
  • Author(s): Project CTA-LST、Jurysek J.、Balbo M.、Eckert D.、Tramacere A.、et al.
  • Journal Title: Astronomy & Astrophysics Volume: - Pages: A75-A75
  • DOI: 10.1051/0004-6361/202245086
  • Peer Reviewed / Open Access / Int'l Joint Research
• [Journal Article] Studies of propagation mechanism of optical crosstalk in silicon photomultipliers (2023)
  • Author(s): Tajima H.、Okumura A.、Furuta K.
  • Journal Title: Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research Section A: Accelerators, Spectrometers, Detectors and Associated Equipment Volume: 1049 Pages: 168029-168029
  • DOI: 10.1016/j.nima.2023.168029
  • Peer Reviewed / Open Access / Int'l Joint Research
• [Journal Article] Development of a blue-mirror multilayer coating on light concentrators for future SiPM cameras (2023)
  • Author(s): Okumura Akira、Haga Junya、Inoue Chiaki、Nishimoto Keiji、Furuta Kazuhiro、Tajima Hiroyasu
  • Journal Title: Proceedings of the 38th International Cosmic Ray Conference Volume: - Pages: 673-673
  • DOI: 10.22323/1.444.0673
  • Open Access / Int'l Joint Research
• [Journal Article] Study on the gain and photon detection efficiency drops of silicon photomultipliers under bright background conditions (2023)
  • Author(s): Okumura Akira、Wakazono Kawori、Furuta Kazuhiro、Tajima Hiroyasu
  • Journal Title: Proceedings of the 38th International Cosmic Ray Conference Volume: - Pages: 674-674
  • DOI: 10.22323/1.444.0674
  • Open Access / Int'l Joint Research
• [Journal Article] Evaluation of the effective mirror area of CTA Small-Sized Telescopes for camera design and Monte Carlo simulation (2023)
  • Author(s): Okumura Akira、Ross Duncan、G. Saturni Francesco、Sironi Giorgia、White Richard
  • Journal Title: Proceedings of the 38th International Cosmic Ray Conference Volume: - Pages: 675-675
  • DOI: 10.22323/1.444.0675
  • Open Access / Int'l Joint Research
• [Journal Article] MAGIC observations provide compelling evidence of hadronic multi-TeV emission from the putative PeVatron SNR G106.3+2.7 (2023)
  • Author(s): MAGIC Collaboration、Abe H.、Abe S.、Acciari V. A.、Agudo I.、Aniello T.、Ansoldi S.、Antonelli L. A.、Arbet Engels A.、Arcaro C.、Artero M.、Asano K.、et al.
  • Journal Title: Astronomy & Astrophysics Volume: 671 Pages: A12-A12
  • DOI: 10.1051/0004-6361/202244931
  • Peer Reviewed / Open Access / Int'l Joint Research
• [Journal Article] The small-sized telescope of CTAO (2022)
  • Author(s): Tagliaferri Gianpiero、Antonelli Angelo、Arnesen Tora、Aschersleben Jann、Attina' Primo、Balbo Matteo、Bang Sunghyun、Barcelo Miquel、Baryshev Andrey、Bellassai Giancarlo、et al.
  • Journal Title: Proceedings of the SPIE Volume: 12182 Pages: 13-13
  • DOI: 10.1117/12.2627956
  • Peer Reviewed / Int'l Joint Research
• [Journal Article] Design and performance of the prototype Schwarzschild-Couder telescope camera (2022)
  • Author(s): Adams Colin B. et al.
  • Journal Title: Journal of Astronomical Telescopes, Instruments, and Systems Volume: 8 Issue: 01 Pages: 014007-014007
  • DOI: 10.1117/1.jatis.8.1.014007
  • Peer Reviewed / Int'l Joint Research
• [Journal Article] Development of an advanced SiPM camera for the Large Size Telescope of the Cherenkov TelescopeArray Observatory (2022)
  • Author(s): H. Abe et al.
  • Journal Title: Proceedings of the 37th International Cosmic Ray Conference Volume: N/A
  • Open Access / Int'l Joint Research
• [Journal Article] Status and results of the prototype LST of CTA (2022)
  • Author(s): H. Abe et al.
  • Journal Title: Proceedings of the 37th International Cosmic Ray Conference Volume: N/A
  • Open Access / Int'l Joint Research
• [Journal Article] First follow-up of transient events with the CTA Large Size Telescope prototype (2022)
  • Author(s): H. Abe et al.
  • Journal Title: Proceedings of the 37th International Cosmic Ray Conference Volume: N/A
  • Open Access / Int'l Joint Research
• [Journal Article] Detection of the Crab Nebula by the prototype Schwarzschild-Couder Telescope (2022)
  • Author(s): B. Mode et al.
  • Journal Title: Proceedings of the 37th International Cosmic Ray Conference Volume: N/A
  • Open Access / Int'l Joint Research
• [Journal Article] Physics Performance of the Large Size Telescope prototype of the Cherenkov Telescope Array (2022)
  • Author(s): H. Abe et al.
  • Journal Title: Proceedings of the 37th International Cosmic Ray Conference Volume: N/A
  • Open Access / Int'l Joint Research
• [Journal Article] Deep-learning-driven event reconstruction applied to simulated data from a single Large-Sized Telescope of CTA (2022)
  • Author(s): R. Lopez-Coto et al.
  • Journal Title: Proceedings of the 37th International Cosmic Ray Conference Volume: N/A
  • Open Access / Int'l Joint Research
• [Journal Article] The Small-Sized Telescopes for the Southern Site of the Cherenkov Telescope Array (2022)
  • Author(s): R. White et al.
  • Journal Title: Proceedings of the 37th International Cosmic Ray Conference Volume: N/A
  • Open Access / Int'l Joint Research
• [Journal Article] Cross-calibration and combined analysis of the CTA-LST prototype and the MAGIC telescopes (2022)
  • Author(s): Y. Ohtani et al.
  • Journal Title: Proceedings of the 37th International Cosmic Ray Conference Volume: N/A
  • Open Access / Int'l Joint Research
• [Journal Article] Camera Calibration of the CTA-LST prototype (2022)
  • Author(s): Y. Kobayashi et al.
  • Journal Title: Proceedings of the 37th International Cosmic Ray Conference Volume: N/A
  • Open Access / Int'l Joint Research
• [Journal Article] Commissioning of the camera of the first Large Size Telescope of the Cherenkov Telescope Array (2022)
  • Author(s): O. Blanch et al.
  • Journal Title: Proceedings of the 37th International Cosmic Ray Conference Volume: N/A
  • Open Access / Int'l Joint Research
• [Journal Article] Prototype Schwarzschild-Couder Telescope for the Cherenkov Telescope Array: Commissioning the Optical System (2022)
  • Author(s): D. Ribeiro et al.
  • Journal Title: Proceedings of the 37th International Cosmic Ray Conference Volume: N/A
  • Open Access / Int'l Joint Research
• [Journal Article] Reconstruction of extensive air shower images of the Large Size Telescope prototype of CTA using a novel likelihood technique (2022)
  • Author(s): C. Alispach et al.
  • Journal Title: Proceedings of the 37th International Cosmic Ray Conference Volume: N/A
  • Open Access / Int'l Joint Research
• [Journal Article] Monitoring the pointing of the Large Size Telescope prototype using star reconstruction in the Cherenkov camera (2022)
  • Author(s): L. Foffano et al.
  • Journal Title: Proceedings of the 37th International Cosmic Ray Conference Volume: N/A
  • Open Access / Int'l Joint Research
• [Journal Article] Analysis of the Cherenkov Telescope Array first Large Size Telescope real data using convolutional neural networks (2022)
  • Author(s): H. Abe et al.
  • Journal Title: Proceedings of the 37th International Cosmic Ray Conference Volume: N/A
  • Open Access / Int'l Joint Research
• [Journal Article] ROBAST 3 (2022)
  • Author(s): A. Okumura
  • Journal Title: Proceedings of the 37th International Cosmic Ray Conference Volume: N/A
  • Open Access
• [Journal Article] CTA - the World's largest ground-based gamma-ray observatory (2022)
  • Author(s): R. Zanin et al.
  • Journal Title: Proceedings of the 37th International Cosmic Ray Conference Volume: N/A
  • Open Access / Int'l Joint Research
• [Journal Article] Design and performance of the prototype Schwarzschild-Couder telescope camera (2022)
  • Author(s): Colin B. Adams et al.
  • Journal Title: Proceedings of the 37th International Cosmic Ray Conference Volume: N/A
  • Open Access / Int'l Joint Research
• [Journal Article] Technical and scientific performance of the prototype Schwarzschild-Couder telescope for CTA (2022)
  • Author(s): Colin B. Adams et al.
  • Journal Title: Proceedings of the 37th International Cosmic Ray Conference Volume: N/A
  • Open Access / Int'l Joint Research
• [Journal Article] Technical and scientific performance of the prototype Schwarzschild-Couder telescope for CTA (2021)
  • Author(s): Adams Colin B. et al.
  • Journal Title: Proceedings of the SPIE Volume: 11820 Pages: 17-17
  • DOI: 10.1117/12.2594580
  • Peer Reviewed / Open Access / Int'l Joint Research
• [Journal Article] Detection of the Crab Nebula with the 9.7?m prototype Schwarzschild-Couder telescope (2021)
  • Author(s): Adams C.B et al.
  • Journal Title: Astroparticle Physics Volume: 128 Pages: 102562-102562
  • DOI: 10.1016/j.astropartphys.2021.102562
  • Peer Reviewed
• [Journal Article] Sensitivity of the Cherenkov Telescope Array to a dark matter signal from the Galactic centre (2021)
  • Author(s): Acharyya A et al.
  • Journal Title: Journal of Cosmology and Astroparticle Physics Volume: 2021 Issue: 01 Pages: 057-057
  • DOI: 10.1088/1475-7516/2021/01/057
  • Peer Reviewed / Open Access / Int'l Joint Research
• [Journal Article] Status of the development of NUV SiPMs for INFN optical modules for the SCT medium sized telescope proposed for the CTA observatory (2020)
  • Author(s): Adams C. et al.
  • Journal Title: Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research Section A: Accelerators, Spectrometers, Detectors and Associated Equipment Volume: 982 Pages: 164486-164486
  • DOI: 10.1016/j.nima.2020.164486
  • Peer Reviewed
• [Journal Article] Using Muon Rings for the Calibration of the Cherenkov Telescope Array: A Systematic Review of the Method and Its Potential Accuracy (2019)
  • Author(s): M. Gaug, S. Fegan, A. M. W. Mitchell, M. C. Maccarone, T. Mineo, and A. Okumura
  • Journal Title: The Astrophysical Journal Volume: 243 Issue: 1 Pages: 11-11
  • DOI: 10.3847/1538-4365/ab2123
  • Peer Reviewed / Int'l Joint Research
• [Journal Article] Characterization of SiPM Optical Crosstalk and Its Dependence on the Protection-Window Thickness (2019)
  • Author(s): Yuki Nakamura, Akira Okumura, Hiroyasu Tajima, Nobuhito Yamane, and Anatolii Zenin
  • Journal Title: JPS Conference Proceedings Volume: 27 Pages: 011003-011003
  • DOI: 10.7566/jpscp.27.011003
  • Peer Reviewed / Open Access / Int'l Joint Research
• [Journal Article] Development of a UV-Transparent Lens Array for Enlarging the Effective Area of Multichannel SiPMs (2019)
  • Author(s): Akira Okumura, Akira Asano, Kazuhiro Furuta, Naoya Hidaka, Yuki Nakamura, Hiroyasu Tajima, and Anatolii Zenin
  • Journal Title: JPS Conference Proceedings Volume: 27 Pages: 011009-011009
  • DOI: 10.7566/jpscp.27.011009
  • Peer Reviewed / Open Access / Int'l Joint Research
• [Journal Article] Monte Carlo studies for the optimisation of the Cherenkov Telescope Array layout (2019)
  • Author(s): Acharyya A. et la.
  • Journal Title: Astroparticle Physics Volume: 111 Pages: 35-53
  • DOI: 10.1016/j.astropartphys.2019.04.001
  • Peer Reviewed / Open Access / Int'l Joint Research
• [Presentation] CTA 報告 225 : 小口径望遠鏡用 64 チャ ンネル SiPM の暗電流の安定性試験 (2) (2024)
  • Author(s): 河原崎琉
  • Organizer: 日本物理学会2024年春季大会
• [Presentation] CTA 報告 215:小口径望遠鏡の開発状況 (2023)
  • Author(s): 奥村曉
  • Organizer: 日本物理学会第78回年次大会
• [Presentation] CTA報告 216:小口径望遠鏡用64チャンネルSiPMの暗電流の安定性試験 (2023)
  • Author(s): 河原崎琉
  • Organizer: 日本物理学会第78回年次大会
• [Presentation] CTA 報告 217: 最尤法を用いたCTA小口径望遠鏡の角度分解能の向上の検証 (2023)
  • Author(s): バンソンヒョン
  • Organizer: 日本物理学会第78回年次大会
• [Presentation] CTA 小口径望遠鏡の開発状況 (2023)
  • Author(s): 奥村曉
  • Organizer: 日本天文学会2023年秋季年会
• [Presentation] Evaluation of the effective mirror area of CTA Small-Sized Telescopes for camera design and Monte Carlo simulation (2023)
  • Author(s): Akira Okumura
  • Organizer: The 38th International Cosmic Ray Conference
  • Int'l Joint Research
• [Presentation] Development of a blue-mirror multilayer coating on light concentrators for future SiPM cameras (2023)
  • Author(s): Akira Okumura
  • Organizer: The 38th International Cosmic Ray Conference
  • Int'l Joint Research
• [Presentation] Study on the gain and photon detection efficiency drops of silicon photomultipliers under bright background conditions (2023)
  • Author(s): Akira Okumura
  • Organizer: The 38th International Cosmic Ray Conference
  • Int'l Joint Research
• [Presentation] CTA 報告 197: CTA大・中口径望遠鏡のカメラのSiPM化に向けた、集光器を用いた夜光低減手法の検討（２） (2022)
  • Author(s): 芳賀純也、田島宏康、奥村曉、古田和浩
  • Organizer: 日本物理学会第77回年次大会
• [Presentation] CTA 報告 198: 月光観測の背景光環境における小口径望遠鏡用SiPMの性能評価 (2022)
  • Author(s): 若園香緒里、田島宏康、奥村曉、古田和浩
  • Organizer: 日本物理学会第77回年次大会
• [Presentation] ROBAST 3 (2021)
  • Author(s): Akira Okumura
  • Organizer: 37th International Cosmic Ray Conference
  • Int'l Joint Research
• [Presentation] Detailed Studies of SiPM Delayed Optical Crosstalk (2021)
  • Author(s): 田島宏康、奥村曉、古田和浩
  • Organizer: KEK Photosensor/Scintillator Workshop
• [Presentation] 光線追跡シミュレーションへの多層膜フィルターの導入と SiPM での応用 (2021)
  • Author(s): 奥村曉
  • Organizer: KEK Photosensor/Scintillator Workshop
• [Presentation] CTA報告171: 小口径望遠鏡用SiPMの光検出効率の入射角度依存性 (2020)
  • Author(s): 奥村曉
  • Organizer: 日本物理学会 2020年秋季大会
• [Presentation] CTA報告180: 小口径望遠鏡の保護ガラスによるSiPMオプティカルクロストークの実測とシミュレーションによる評価 (2020)
  • Author(s): 黒田裕介
  • Organizer: 日本物理学会 2020年秋季大会
• [Presentation] CTA報告181: 大・中口径望遠鏡カメラSiPM化に向けた、集光器への多層膜蒸着による夜光低減の検討a (2020)
  • Author(s): 芳賀純也
  • Organizer: 日本物理学会 2020年秋季大会
• [Presentation] SiPMのクロストーク特性 (2020)
  • Author(s): 田島宏康
  • Organizer: 日本物理学会 2020年秋季大会
• [Presentation] Schwarzschild-Couder型のCTA 小・中口径望遠鏡の開発状況 (2020)
  • Author(s): 奥村曉
  • Organizer: 日本天文学会 2020年秋季年会
• [Presentation] CTA報告164:小口径望遠鏡用SiPMの光検出効率の入射角度依存性 (2020)
  • Author(s): 奥村曉
  • Organizer: 日本物理学会第75回年次大会
• [Presentation] SiPM保護膜のクロストーク低減への影響 (2020)
  • Author(s): 田島宏康
  • Organizer: 日本物理学会第75回年次大会
• [Presentation] SiPM光検出効率の入射角度依存性の評価 (2019)
  • Author(s): 黒田裕介
  • Organizer: 日本物理学会2019年秋季大会
• [Presentation] Evaluation of a multi-channel silicon photomultiplier with a light concentrator for Medium-Sized Telescopes of Cherenkov Telescope Array (2019)
  • Author(s): Anatolii Zenin
  • Organizer: SiPM workshop
  • Int'l Joint Research
• [Patent(Industrial Property Rights)] 特許権 (2021)
  • Inventor(s): 奥村曉、西本圭司、井上知晶
  • Industrial Property Rights Holder: 奥村曉、西本圭司、井上知晶
  • Industrial Property Rights Type: 特許
  • Filing Date: 2021