Differences between gamma-ray and hadronic showers

Abstract

Cosmic gamma-ray ray sources may be sought if high-energy gamma-rays may be detected without confusion from the very intense isotropic background of hadronic cosmic rays. Ground-based methods are needed at energies above tens of GeV, using air showers, and at energies below tens of TeV, the detection of muons in showers is not the most efficient way to reject hadronic showers. The shape and orientation of Čerenkov images can reject far more than 99% of the background. The way in which Čerenkov radiation is distributed in showers is discussed, and the possibilities of using image shape, distribution of light on the ground, time profile, spectrum and polarization of the light are briefly discussed. Imaging alone appears to be the most powerful. Simulations suggest that the uv content of the light should not be a useful diagnostic.