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The HAWC observatory is a proposed, large field of view (~2 sr), high duty cycle
(>95%) T eV gamma-ray detector which uses a large pond of water (150 m x 150
m) located at 4300 m elevation. The pond contains 900 photomultiplier tubes
(PMTs) to observe the relativistic particles and secondary gamma rays in
extensive air showers. This technique has been used successfully by the Milagro
observatory to detect known, as well as new, TeV sources. The PMTs and much
of the data acquisition system of Milagro will be reused for HAWC, resulting a cost
effective detector (~5.5M$) that can be built quickly in 2-3 years. The
improvements of HAWC will result in ~15 times the sensitivity of Milagro. HAWC
will survey 2_ sr of the sky every day with a sensitivity of the Crab flux at a
median energy of 1 TeV. After one year of operation half of the sky will be
surveyed to 50 mCrab. This sensitivity will likely result in the discovery of new
sources as well as allow the identification of which GLAST sources extend to
higher energies.

ƥ HAWC will monitor (for >4 hours every day), every point in ~ 2_ sr of the sky. Over a 5 year observation period HAWC
will perform an unbiased sky survey with a detection threshold of ~20 mCrab, enabling the monitoring of known
sources, the discovery of new sources of known types, and the discovery of new classes of TeV gamma ray sources.
ƥ The sensitivity of HAWC to extended sources surpasses that of IACTs for sources larger than 0.25o. HESS observes
many diffuse galactic sources clustered around their sensitivity limit, they may only be seeing Ơthe tip of the icebergơ.
ƥ With HAWCƞs sensitivity at high energies, we will probe the knee of the cosmic ray spectrum answering questions about
the origin and propagation of cosmic rays.
ƥ With the sensitivity to detect a flux of 5 times that of the Crab in just 10 minutes over the entire overhead sky, HAWC
will observe many flares from AGN. While an important measurement in its own right, this will also enable many multi-
wavelength observations of these flares. IceCube sensitivity can be significantly enhanced by knowing the location and
time of flares.
ƥ HAWCƞs sensitivity to the prompt emission from gamma-ray bursts is unique. With HAWCƞs low energy threshold, GRBs
with a T eV fluence comparable to their keV fluence will be detectable to a redshift of ~1, while for closer GRBs much
lower fluences can be detected. HAWCƞs sensitivity to transient phenomena will extend the field of time-domain
astrophysics to TeV energies.
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Milagro is located at LANL and is the most sensitive wide field of view, very high
energy, gamma-ray detector in the world. Milagro was built and is operated by ± A. Simmonet
a collaboration of six universities and LANL. The analysis of Milagro data has
lead to the first observation of TeV emission from the plane of the Milky Way
[Atkins, R. et al. 2005, Physical Review Letters, 95(25), 251103].


 

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Showers of particles initiated by very high energy gamma rays are detected in a
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The total cost of HAWC is ~ö $5.5M. The reuse of the 900 8ơ PMTs and
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costs paid by Milagro. Milagro received $2.7M from DoE and NSF over a
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it is placed at as high an altitude as possible. Several high altitude sites have been   
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investigated at elevation above 4000 m (13100 ft). No suitable site exists in the to propose to build HAWC. A proposal was submitted to NSF and DoE HEP.
United States due to winter weather conditions and environmental considerations.
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6 ã    A strong collaboration has been formed and detailed hardware design and
Sensitivity to 10 Second GRB cost estimates have been obtained. Due to the remoteness of the site, the
design must be robust and remotely operable using computer based
E 2 dN/dE (ergs cm -2)

10-3 20-30 degrees interfaces. Our experience with Milagro has proven that we can build such a
Mexico: Sierra Negra 10-20 degrees
4030 m elevation 0-10 degrees detector and it will be successful.
Detected GRBs
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Tibet: Yang Ba Jing 10-8

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