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Ultra-high-energy (UHE, >0.1 PeV) γ-ray astronomy is rapidly evolving into an expanding branch of γ-ray astronomy with the surprising discovery of 12 PeVatrons and the detection of a handful of photons above 1 PeV. Nearly all known celestial object types that have emissions in the TeV band are found also to emit UHE photons. UHE γ-rays have a well-defined horizon inside our Galaxy due to the absorption of infrared and cosmic microwave backgrounds in the Universe. In the last 30 years, traditional cosmic ray (CR) measurement techniques have enabled the detection of UHE γ-rays and opened the last observation window. For leptonic sources, UHE radiation is in the deep Klein–Nishina regime, which is largely suppressed. Therefore, UHE γ-ray detection will be helpful in locating and identifying hadronic radiation sources, tracing the historic pursuit for the origin of CRs around the knee of the spectrum. The Crab Nebula is the focus of attention with measured photon emissions up to 1 PeV. In the absence of hadronic processes, these emissions may indicate the existence of an extreme accelerator of e+e−. Use of CR extensive air shower detection techniques broadens the field of view of the source observations, enabling measurement of UHE radiation surrounding the sources. These observations can probe the particle propagation inside and outside the accelerators and the subsequent injection/escape into the interstellar medium. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The evolution of extensive air shower detection as a technique for γ-ray astronomical instrumentation for the last three decades is reviewed. The first discoveries of galactic PeVatrons by the Large High Altitude Air Shower Observatory demonstrate the importance of this technique in ultra-high energy γ-ray astronomy. Utilizing this technique, the origins of high energy cosmic rays may be discovered in the near future.