Searching for gamma rays and dark matter with PANOSETI

Gamma rays from the most powerful particle accelerators in the galaxy have recently been observed with energies in excess of 1000 TeV (1e15 electronvolts). The gamma-ray flux from the brightest sources at these energies is only a few photons per square kilometer per year, making them a challenge for current observatories to study. The Panoramic Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence (PANOSETI) experiment has developed telescopes that are, coincidentally, optimal for detecting gamma rays with energies above 10 TeV. A large array of sparsely separated PANOSETI telescopes can potentially be constructed to achieve the necessary effective area at a lower cost than contemporary detectors, allowing for unprecedented detailed studies of some of the most exotic objects in our galaxy. A prototype array was deployed at Lick Observatory, California in October 2024 to observe the Crab Nebula, the brightest source of steady TeV emission. Sensitivity to gamma rays at these energies also offers a channel to search for dark matter in an underexplored parameter space. Described here is the telescope technology, status of the array, and plans for future deployment.