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Calibration of the Cherenkov Telescope Array

Gaug M, Daniel M, Berge D, De Los Reyes R, Doro M, Foerster A, Maccarone MC, Parsons D, van Eldik C (2015)

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Publication Language: English

Publication Status: Published

Publication Type: Conference contribution, Conference Contribution

Publication year: 2015

Publisher: Proceedings of Science (PoS)

Pages Range: 929

Article Number: 929

Conference Proceedings Title: 34th International Cosmic Ray Conference (ICRC2015)

URI: https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?partnerID=HzOxMe3b&scp=84988711999&origin=inward

Abstract

The construction of the Cherenkov Telescope Array, consisting of two observatories designed to observe the very high energy gamma-ray sky with unprecedented sensitivity and precision, is expected to start soon. We will present the baseline methods and their extensions currently foreseen to calibrate the observatory. These are bound to achieve the strong requirements on allowed systematic uncertainties for the reconstructed gamma-ray energy and flux scales, as well as on the pointing resolution, and on the overall duty cycle of the observatory. Onsite calibration activities are designed to include a robust and efficient calibration of the telescope cameras, and various methods and instruments to achieve calibration of the overall optical throughput of each telescope, leading to both inter-telescope calibration and an absolute calibration of the entire observatory. One important aspect of the onsite calibration is a correct understanding of the atmosphere above the telescopes, which constitutes the calorimeter of this detection technique. It is planned to be constantly monitored with state-of-the-art instruments to obtain a full molecular and aerosol profile up to the stratosphere. In order to guarantee the best use of the observation time, in terms of usable data, an intelligent scheduling system is required, which gives preference to those sources and observation programs that can cope with the given atmospheric conditions, especially if the sky is partially covered by clouds, or slightly contaminated by dust. Ceilometers in combination with all-sky-cameras are plannned to provide the observatory with a fast, online and full-sky knowledge of the expected conditions for each pointing direction. For a precise characterization of the adopted observing direction, wide-field optical telescopes and Raman Lidars are planned to provide information about the height-resolved and wavelength-dependent atmospheric extinction, throughout the field-of-view of the cameras.

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How to cite

APA:

Gaug, M., Daniel, M., Berge, D., De Los Reyes, R., Doro, M., Foerster, A.,... van Eldik, C. (2015). Calibration of the Cherenkov Telescope Array. In 34th International Cosmic Ray Conference (ICRC2015) (pp. 929). Proceedings of Science (PoS).

MLA:

Gaug, Markus, et al. "Calibration of the Cherenkov Telescope Array." Proceedings of the 34th International Cosmic Ray Conference, ICRC 2015 Proceedings of Science (PoS), 2015. 929.

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