| This thesis describes a search for ∼ 100 TeV photons from three sources discovered by the High Energy Stereoscopic System (HESS) telescope. These sources have gamma-ray spectra extending to beyond 10 TeV. In the 1930's the composition of cosmic rays was still heavily debated. Today, it is understood that cosmic rays are composed of roughly 90% protons, 9% alpha particles, with the remainder consisting of heavier nuclei and a small fraction of gamma-rays. The gamma-ray component of the cosmic rays provides information used in determining the direction of the sources of the cosmic rays. These sources are not fully understood. gamma-rays have a neutral charge and therefore are not affected by the magnetic fields they come into contact with as they travel from the source. When a cosmic ray enters the atmosphere, it creates an extensive air shower of particles. The particles can be detected with an air shower array. This thesis discusses the development of the extensive air showers along with the description of a scintillator array, the South Pole Air Shower Experiment 2 (SPASE-2), used to detect them. Included in the discussion is an analysis of the data collected from the experiment along with simulations necessary to interpret the results. There were 1,171 days of data used from the years 2002 through 2006 to determine if SPASE-2 is able to detect three known gamma-ray point sources. The results were negative. |
