The High Energy Stereoscopic System
H.E.S.S. is a system of Imaging Atmospheric Cherenkov Telescopes that investigates cosmic gamma rays in the 100 GeV to 100 TeV energy range. The name H.E.S.S. stands for High Energy Stereoscopic System, and is also intended to pay homage to Victor Hess , who received the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1936 for his discovery of cosmic radiation. The instrument allows scientists to explore gamma-ray sources with intensities at a level of a few thousandths of the flux of the Crab nebula (the brightest steady source of gamma rays in the sky). H.E.S.S. is located in Namibia, near the Gamsberg mountain, an area well known for its excellent optical quality. The first of the four telescopes of Phase I of the H.E.S.S. project went into operation in Summer 2002; all four were operational in December 2003, and were officially inaugurated on September 28, 2004.
An introduction to the physics and instruments of H.E.S.S. as well as various highlights of H.E.S.S. results can be found in a recent brochure (full-resolution PDF, 7 MB; lower-resolution, 2 MB), as well as in the links later on this page. Older (but still interesting) is the brochure created for the 2004 inauguration: PDF in screen resolution (1.6 MB) and full-resolution PPT (15 MB). For tours of the H.E.S.S. site, please visit the Contact page.
Read more about:
- Astrophysics with H.E.S.S.: The Nonthermal Universe
- The H.E.S.S. Telescope System
- The H.E.S.S. Site in Nambia
- The Project Chronology (up to 2004)
Images/Picture collections:
- Construction of the H.E.S.S. Phase I telescopes
- Inauguration of the first H.E.S.S. telescope, Sept.3, 2002
- H.E.S.S. Phase I Inauguration, Sept. 28, 2004
- H.E.S.S. Open Day, Oct. 2, 2004
