SST-1M: Recent results and prospects for observation of the Galactic Center region

Abstract

The Galactic Center is a crowded region containing powerful particle accelerators and objects producing non-thermal radiation, including the diffuse very-high-energy (VHE) gamma-ray component known as the `Ridge', whose hard spectrum suggests particle acceleration up to PeV energies. The relevant processes can be tested, and the source parameters can be constrained via Cherenkov telescope observations. Two Single-Mirror Small-Size Cherenkov Telescopes (SST-1M) are currently operated in stereoscopic mode at the Ondřejov Observatory. Their future relocation is being considered, including a site with excellent visibility of the Galactic Center. We present recent observations demonstrating SST-1M capabilities for detecting extended emission and discuss prospects for probing the Galactic Center region, including searches for a spectral cut-off above 10 TeV. We show that the large field-of-view and good VHE sensitivity make SST-1M an ideal instrument for the search for PeVatrons.