Werner Hofman, director of the Max Planck Institute for Nuclear Physics in Germany, gave this lecture in November 2016. In his lecture, Hofmann explores the latest advances in very high-energy (VHE) gamma-ray astronomy, highlighting how these ultra-powerful photons allow us to observe extreme cosmic processes that remain hidden at other wavelengths. He presents the detection principles behind Cherenkov telescopes and their crucial role in revealing particle accelerators within our galaxy and beyond. Hofmann also discusses the most significant discoveries to date and examines the Cherenkov Telescope Array (CTA) project as the next-generation initiative that will dramatically increase the sensitivity of such observations.
This lecture is part of the astrophysics series ‘The Science of the Cosmos, the Science in the Cosmos’, tackles the fundamental questions in contemporary astrophy
Werner Hofman, director of the Max Planck Institute for Nuclear Physics in Germany, gave this lecture in November 2016. In his lecture, Hofmann explores the latest advances in very high-energy (VHE) gamma-ray astronomy, highlighting how these ultra-powerful photons allow us to observe extreme cosmic processes that remain hidden at other wavelengths. He presents the detection principles behind Cherenkov telescopes and their crucial role in revealing particle accelerators within our galaxy and beyond. Hofmann also discusses the most significant discoveries to date and examines the Cherenkov Telescope Array (CTA) project as the next-generation initiative that will dramatically increase the sensitivity of such observations.
This lecture is part of the astrophysics series ‘The Science of the Cosmos, the Science in the Cosmos’, tackles the fundamental questions in contemporary astrophysics. The fifth edition explores issues such as cosmic rays and anti-matter, the evolution of galaxies and the role played by black holes, the exploration of the Solar System, and the detection of gravitational waves.
