Sensitivity of the Cherenkov Telescope Array for probing cosmology and fundamental physics with gamma-ray propagation

0547663 - ASÚ 2022 RIV GB eng J - Journal Article
Abdalla, H. - Abe, H. - Acero, F. - Araudo, Anabella - Karas, Vladimír … Total 499 authors
Sensitivity of the Cherenkov Telescope Array for probing cosmology and fundamental physics with gamma-ray propagation.
Journal of Cosmology and Astroparticle Physics. Roč. 2021, č. 2 (2021), č. článku 048. ISSN 1475-7516. E-ISSN 1475-7516
R&D Projects: GA MŠMT(CZ) LM2018105; GA MŠMT LTT17006; GA MŠMT LM2015046
Institutional support: RVO:67985815
Keywords : active galactic nuclei * gamma ray experiments * axionsextragalactic magnetic fields
OECD category: Astronomy (including astrophysics,space science)
Impact factor: 7.280, year: 2021
Method of publishing: Limited access
https://doi.org/10.1088/1475-7516/2021/02/048

The Cherenkov Telescope Array (CTA), the new-generation ground-based observatory for gamma-ray astronomy, provides unique capabilities to address significant open questions in astrophysics, cosmology, and fundamental physics. We study some of the salient areas of gamma-ray cosmology that can be explored as part of the Key Science Projects of CTA, through simulated observations of active galactic nuclei (AGN) and of their relativistic jets. Observations of AGN with CTA will enable a measurement of gamma-ray absorption on the extragalactic background light with a statistical uncertainty below 15% up to a redshift z = 2 and to constrain or detect gamma-ray halos up to intergalactic-magnetic-field strengths of at least 0.3 pG. Extragalactic observations with CTA also show promising potential to probe physics beyond the Standard Model. The best limits on Lorentz invariance violation from gamma-ray astronomy will be improved by a factor of at least two to three. CTA will also probe the parameter space in which axion-like particles could constitute a significant fraction, if not all, of dark matter. We conclude on the synergies between CTA and other upcoming facilities that will foster the growth of gamma-ray cosmology.
Permanent Link: http://hdl.handle.net/11104/0323859