After the launch and successful beginning of operations of the FERMI satellite, the topics related to high-energy observations of gamma-ray bursts have obtained a considerable attention by the scientific community. Undoubtedly, the diagnostic power o
f high-energy observations in constraining the emission processes and the physical conditions of gamma-ray burst is relevant. We briefly discuss how gamma-ray burst observations with ground-based imaging array Cerenkov telescopes, in the GeV-TeV range, can compete and cooperate with FERMI observations, in the MeV-GeV range, to allow researchers to obtain a more detailed and complete picture of the prompt and afterglow phases of gamma-ray bursts.
Kilometer scale neutrino telescopes are now being constructed (IceCube) and designed (KM3NeT). While no neutrino flux of cosmic origin has been discovered so far, the first weak signals are expected to be discerned in the next few years. Multi-messen
ger (observations combining different kinds of emission) investigations can enhance the discovery chance for neutrinos in case of correlations. One possible application is the search for time correlations of high energy neutrinos and established signals. We show the first adaptation of a Target of Opportunity strategy to collect simultaneous data of high energy neutrinos and gamma-rays. Neutrino events with coordinates close to preselected candidate sources are used to alert gamma-ray observations. The detection of a positive coincidence can enhance the neutrino discovery chance. More generally, this scheme of operation can increase the availability of simultaneous observations. If cosmic neutrino signals can be established, the combined observations will allow time correlation studies and therefore constraints on the source modeling. A first technical implementation of this scheme involving AMANDA-II and MAGIC has been realized for few pre-selected sources in a short test run (Sept. to Dec. 2006), showing the feasability of the concept. Results from this test run are shown.
In February 2007 the MAGIC Air Cherenkov Telescope for gamma-ray astronomy was fully upgraded with an ultra fast 2 GSamples/s digitization system. Since the Cherenkov light flashes are very short, a fast readout can minimize the influence of the back
ground from the light of the night sky. Also, the time structure of the event is an additional parameter to reduce the background from unwanted hadronic showers. An overview of the performance of the new system and its impact on the sensitivity of the MAGIC instrument will be presented.
