MAGIC: An Instrument for Ground-Based Gamma-Ray-Astronomy

Martin Merck
Institut fuer Theoretische Physik und Astrophysik
Wuerzburg, Germany

MAGIC is an innovative imaging air cherenkov telescope designed to achieve
the lowest possible energy threshold. The novel techniques used to build
this telescope will be discussed. Based on the expected performance of the
telescope we will review the physics goals and potential of the telescope.
A main scientific  goal will be the the precise measurement of the
high energy spectra of AGNs at different redshifts and the determination
of the cosmological gamma-ray horizon. Prospects on detecting VHE
gamma-rays from GRBs will be presented. Finaly the accessible parameter
space for searching for cold dark matter using the neutralino
annihilation line will be reviewed.