Gamma-ray astronomy with the imaging atmospheric Cherenkov telescopes in India

Abstract

Ground-based γ-ray astronomy (GRA) using atmospheric Cherenkov techniques has emerged as a mature field during the last three decades in modern high-energy astrophysics. Advent of the imaging atmospheric Cherenkov telescopes (IACTs) for the indirect detection of the cosmic $\gamma$-ray photons has played a very important and leading role to understand the non-thermal Universe in the GeV–TeV energy band. In this paper, we present a topical review of the field with a special focus on the two Indian IACTs namely TeV atmospheric Cherenkov telescope with imaging camera and major atmospheric Cherenkov experiment. We also describe the present status and future scope of the GRA using IACTs in India.