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Free keywords:
radiation mechanisms; nonthermal, pulsar, galaxy: center, acceleration of particles, supernova remnants, gamma rays: observations, cosmology.
Abstract:
High energy gamma-ray astronomy has recently made significant progress through ground-based instruments like the H.E.S.S. array of imaging atmospheric Cherenkov telescopes. The unprecendented angular resolution and the large field of of view has allowed to spacially resolve for the first time the morphology of gamma-rays sources in the TeV energy range. The experimental technique is described and the types of sources detected and still expected are discussed. Selected results include objects as different as a galactic binary pulsar, the Galactic Center and Supernova Remnants but they also concern the diffuse the extragalactic optical/infrared radiation field. Finally a scan of the galactic plane in TeV gamma-rays is described which has led to a significant number of new TeV sources, many of which are still unidentified in other wavelengths. The field has a close connection with x-ray astronomy which allows the study of synchrotron emission from these very high energy sources.
