Exploring the Universe at the highest energies opens a window into its most extreme and dynamic environments. From relativistic jets powered by supermassive black holes to the explosive remnants of stellar deaths, high-energy astrophysics reveals the physics of nature under conditions far beyond those achievable on Earth.

At the forefront of this exploration is the High Energy Stereoscopic System (H.E.S.S.), located near Windhoek, Namibia. This world-leading gamma-ray observatory detects photons with energies billions of times greater than visible light, enabling us to probe cosmic particle acceleration and the origin of high-energy radiation across the Universe. This array of five imaging atmospheric Cherenkov telescopes represents a major international collaboration, with strong contributions from Europe, Africa, and other global partners. Since 1999, North-West University has played a key role as the principal South African partner in H.E.S.S.

The five-telescope H.E.S.S. array

Credit: Klepser, DESY, H.E.S.S. collaboration

Building on this legacy, the Centre for Space Research is actively involved in shaping the future of ground-based gamma-ray astronomy through the Cherenkov Telescope Array Observatory (CTAO). As the next-generation facility, CTAO will consist of 64 telescopes of 3 different sizes on two sites: On the Canary Island of La Palma (Spain) in the northern hemisphere and at a site near Mt. Paranal (Chile) in the south. It will deliver unprecedented sensitivity and angular resolution in the very-high-energy regime, surpassing the capabilities of currently operating facilities by about an order of magnitude. 

CTAO North

Credit: Aditya Pandey

The high-energy astrophysics group is also a partner in the next-generation neutrino observatory, KM3NeT, currently under construction at 2 sites in the Mediterranean Sea. 

These activities are coordinated under the South African Gamma-Ray Astronomy Programme (SA-GAMMA), hosted by NWU and thereby strengthening regional leadership in high-energy astrophysics. SA-GAMMA consists of about 100 members at NWU, Wits University, the University of Johannesburg, the University of the Free State, the South African Astronomical Observatory, and the University of Namibia. 

The high-energy astrophysics group at the Centre for Space Research covers a broad range of topics aimed at understanding the most energetic phenomena in the Universe. Research led by Prof. Christo Venter focuses on gamma-ray pulsars, exploring their emission mechanisms and magnetospheric processes. Prof. Markus Böttcher leads efforts in high-energy and multi-messenger astrophysics, including studies of relativistic jets, cosmic rays, and the connection between electromagnetic signals and neutrinos. Work by Dr. Monica Barnard investigates high-energy phenomena such as pulsars and gamma-ray bursts, combining observations and modeling to probe extreme environments. In addition, Ms. Dimakatso Maheso contributes to high-energy physics, complementing the astrophysical studies with insights into fundamental particle processes. Together, these research areas form a comprehensive program that bridges theoretical modeling, observations, and multi-messenger approaches to explore the high-energy Universe.

Artist’s impression of the quasar 3C 279

Credit: ESO/M. Kornmesser