MACE Telescope
The Major Atmospheric Cherenkov Experiment (MACE) is the highest imaging Cherenkov telescope in the world, located in Hanle, Ladakh (4.3 km above sea level).
It has a 21-meter-wide dish, the largest in Asia and second-largest globally.
Developed by Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC), Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR), Electronics Corporation of India Ltd. (ECIL), and Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIA).
How MACE Detects Gamma Rays
Gamma rays are high-energy light particles that are usually blocked by Earth’s atmosphere.
When gamma rays hit the atmosphere, they create a shower of particles (electron-positron pairs), which emit Cherenkov radiation — a faint blue light.
The MACE telescope detects this Cherenkov radiation using an imaging atmospheric Cherenkov telescope (IACT) setup.
The light collector of MACE consists of 356 mirror panels arranged in a honeycomb structure, which increases stability and reflection.
Telescope Design and Features
MACE’s high-altitude location helps avoid atmospheric disturbances, and the telescope’s mirrors are exposed to the environment for optimal operation.
The camera of MACE is equipped with 1,088 photomultiplier tubes that detect and amplify faint signals from the Cherenkov radiation.
The telescope is mounted on a movable base with six wheels and uses an altitude-azimuth mount, allowing it to observe all parts of the sky.
Scientific Goals and Dark Matter Research
MACE primarily studies gamma rays with energies over 20 billion eV, focusing on sources like black holes, gamma-ray pulsars, and blazars.
One of MACE's key objectives is to investigate dark matter, which constitutes a large portion of the universe's mass but remains poorly understood.
Weakly interacting massive particles (WIMPs), a candidate for dark matter, may produce high-energy gamma rays when they collide and annihilate. MACE could help detect these gamma rays and shed light on the nature of dark matter
India's Role in Gamma-Ray Astronomy
India has been a significant player in gamma-ray astronomy for over 50 years.
MACE represents a major leap in India’s scientific and technological capacity in the field of high-energy astrophysics.
With advanced features and local contributions, MACE could play a crucial role in answering fundamental questions about the universe and dark matter.
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