Atmospheric Cherenkov telescopes

Atmospheric Cherenkov telescopes detect very high-energy gamma rays from space by observing brief flashes of blue light called Cherenkov radiation. When these gamma rays enter Earth's atmosphere, they interact with air molecules, creating particles that move faster than the speed of light in air and produce Cherenkov light. Large mirrors in the telescope collect this faint blue glow, allowing scientists to study extreme cosmic phenomena like black holes and supernovae. By analyzing these signals, researchers gain insights into the high-energy universe and the fundamental processes occurring in distant cosmic objects.