MAGIC (Major Atmospheric Gamma-ray Imaging Cherenkov Telescopes) is a system of two Imaging Atmospheric Cherenkov telescopes (IACT) situated at the Roque de los Muchachos Observatory (La Palma, Canary Islands). The first telescope started routine operation in 2004 and the second one, built at a distance of 85 m from the first one, started taking data in 2010.
IACTs are large optical reflectors which can detect cosmic rays, in particular gamma rays, thanks to the Cherenkov method. Gamma rays that arrive at the Earth's atmosphere are absorbed by it and decay giving place to a cascade of secondary particles. These particles emit radiation in the visible and the ultraviolet range at a characteristic angle, known as Cherenkov radiation, which pass through the atmosphere. IACTs can record the radiation emitted by secondary particles produced by one single original gamma. The image produced by this radiation has special characteristics that allow to identify the recorded particle as a gamma, and to specify its direction and energy.
IACTs are large optical reflectors which can detect cosmic rays, in particular gamma rays, thanks to the Cherenkov method. Gamma rays that arrive at the Earth's atmosphere are absorbed by it and decay giving place to a cascade of secondary particles. These particles emit radiation in the visible and the ultraviolet range at a characteristic angle, known as Cherenkov radiation, which pass through the atmosphere. IACTs can record the radiation emitted by secondary particles produced by one single original gamma. The image produced by this radiation has special characteristics that allow to identify the recorded particle as a gamma, and to specify its direction and energy.
Due to the high sensitivity of both telescopes, achieved thanks to its large reflector, best light collection and high sensitivity cameras, MAGIC has been able to detect cosmic rays as weak as 25 GeV, which has allowed detecting fainter objects than its predecessors. Among the most interesting subjects of observation we find energetic galactic systems such as supernova remnants, pulsars and binary systems, and extragalactic objects, most notably Active Galactic Nuclei (AGNs) and Gamma Ray Bursts. Also other sources found at lower energies but not yet identified have been studied.
ICCUB Contribution
The ICCUB researchers are members of the MAGIC Collaboration since 2006. They have an important role in the preparation and interpretation of MAGIC observations of galactic compact binary systems through multiwavelength observations and theoretical modeling, a topic that has produced high-quality and highly cited papers. Josep M. Paredes is the Chair of the evaluation committee of the Key Observation Program of MAGIC since January 2013. Marc Ribó has been convener of the Physics Working Group on Galactic Sources from 2010 to 2013, and is a member and secretary of the Time Allocation Committee since 2013.
