Astronomy Seminar
| Date/Time: | Friday, 27 Mar 2015 at 4:10 pm |
|---|---|
| Location: | 38 Physics |
| Contact: | Steve Kawaler, Physics and Astronomy |
| Phone: | 515-294-5440 |
| Channel: | College of Liberal Arts and Sciences |
| Categories: | Lectures |
| Actions: | Download iCal/vCal | Email Reminder |
The extragalactic background light (EBL) is an IR radiation field that permeates our universe. High energy gamma-rays from blazars are attenuated by this field, and therefore can be used to map its intensity. The mid-IR flux is likely dominated by large molecules called PAHs, that emit IR radiation at 11.2um. I have investigated the sensitivity needed by a ground based Imagine Atmospheric Cherenkov Telescope (IACT) to observe the absorption caused by different levels of PAHs. While current IACT arrays likely do not possess the sensitivity needed to observe gamma-rays in the region most affected by PAHs, it is possible that this will change with the next generation of improved IACT.