Catching GRBs with atmospheric Cherenkov telescopes

Understand

Fermi has shown GRBs to be a source of >10 GeV photons.

• We present an estimate of the detection rate of GRBs with a next generation Cherenkov telescope.
• Our predictions are based on the observed properties of GRBs detected by Fermi, combined with the spectral properties and redshift determinations for the bursts population by instruments operating at lower energies.
• While detection of VHE emission from GRBs has eluded ground-based instruments thus far, our results suggest that ground-based detection may be within reach of the proposed Cherenkov Telescope Array (CTA), albeit with a low rate, 0.25 - 0.5/yr.