Major Atmospheric Cherenkov Experiment (MACE) Telescope

GS Paper III Science and Technology

MACE telescope is a state-of-the-art ground-based gamma-ray telescope inaugurated in Hanle, Ladakh.

Key Features of MACE

World’s Highest Imaging Cherenkov Telescope: Located at around 4.3 km above sea level it boasts a 21-metre-wide dish, making it Asia’s largest imaging Cherenkov telescope and second-largest globally.
Advanced Construction and Technology
- Features 356 honeycomb-structured mirror panels, each coated with silicon dioxide for environmental protection.
- High-resolution camera equipped with 1,088 photomultiplier tubes to amplify faint signals.
- Mounted on a 180-tonne structure with an altitude-azimuth system, enabling movement along both horizontal and vertical planes for wide-sky coverage.
Ground-Based Detection of Gamma Rays: Utilizes Cherenkov radiation produced when cosmic gamma rays interact with the Earth’s atmosphere.
- Operates as an Imaging Atmospheric Cherenkov Telescope (IACT), using indirect techniques to study high-energy gamma rays (>20 billion electron volts).

Gamma ray is a high energy electromagnetic radiation with shortest wavelength, no charge and no rest mass.
They are produced by the decay of atomic nuclei or by high-energy processes in space.

Sources of cosmic gamma rays:

Black holes: Accretion disks around black holes release gamma rays as matter is heated to extremely high temperatures and accelerated.
Neutron stars and pulsars: These rapidly rotating, highly magnetized stars emit gamma rays in powerful beams.
Supernova explosions: The collapse of massive stars releases enormous amounts of energy, including gamma rays.
Gamma-ray bursts (GRBs): These are the most energetic explosions in the universe, believed to be caused by the collapse of massive stars or the merger of neutron stars.

Indigenous Development: Designed and developed in India by institutions like Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC), Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR), and the Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIA).

Study of High-Energy Gamma Rays: Investigates gamma rays from exotic cosmic phenomena like pulsars, supernovae, black holes, and gamma-ray bursts.
- Aims to analyze gamma rays beyond the Milky Way, including emissions from blazars and gamma-ray pulsars.
Dark Matter Research: Seeks evidence of weakly interacting massive particles (WIMPs), a potential constituent of dark matter.
- Helps explore gamma rays generated from WIMP annihilation in galaxy clusters or near the Milky Way’s center.
Contribution to High-Energy Astrophysics: Provides insights into particle physics, gamma-ray astronomy, and cosmology.
- Supports validation of existing theories or challenges prevailing hypotheses about the universe’s fundamental structure.
Technological Advancements in Astronomy: Sets a precedent for ground-based gamma-ray observatories globally and paves the way for future collaborative research and advancements in Indian astrophysics.

Clear Skies: Hanle enjoys a high number of clear nights throughout the year, minimizing atmospheric interference.
High Altitude: The high altitude reduces atmospheric turbulence, leading to sharper and clearer astronomical observations.
Dry Climate: The arid climate minimizes the amount of water vapor in the atmosphere, which can obscure celestial objects.
Dark Skies: The remote location and minimal light pollution create ideal conditions for observing faint celestial objects.
Stable Atmosphere: The stable atmospheric conditions reduce the blurring effect on astronomical images.

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