A run-wise simulation and analysis framework for Imaging Atmospheric Cherenkov Telescope arrays

AbstractThe presence of muons in air-showers initiated by cosmic ray protons and nuclei is well established as a powerful tool to separate such showers from those initiated by gamma rays. However, so far this approach has been fully exploited only for ground level particle detecting arrays. We explore the feasibility of using Cherenkov light from muons as a background rejection tool for imaging atmospheric Cherenkov telescope arrays at the highest energies. We adopt an analytical model of the Cherenkov light from individual muons to allow rapid simulation of a large number of showers in a hybrid mode. This allows us to explore the very high background rejection power regime at acceptable cost in terms of computing time. We show that for very large ($$\gtrsim 20$$ ≳ 20 m mirror diameter) telescopes, efficient identification of muon light can potentially lead to background rejection levels up to 10$$^{-5}$$ - 5 whilst retaining high efficiency for gamma rays. While many challenges remain in the effective exploitation of the muon Cherenkov light in the data analysis for imaging Cherenkov telescope arrays, our study indicates that for arrays containing at least one large telescope, this is a very worthwhile endeavor.

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Stellar intensity interferometry: imaging capabilities of air Cherenkov telescope arrays

10.1117/12.856496 ◽

2010 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Paul D. Nuñez ◽

Stephan LeBohec ◽

David Kieda ◽

Richard Holmes ◽

Hannes Jensen ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Cherenkov Telescope ◽

Intensity Interferometry ◽

Telescope Arrays

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The Cherenkov Telescope Array Science Goals and Current Status

EPJ Web of Conferences ◽

10.1051/epjconf/201920901038 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 209 ◽

pp. 01038 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

The CTA Consortium ◽

Rene A. Ong

Keyword(s):

Gamma Ray ◽

Extreme Environments ◽

Current Status ◽

Beyond The Standard Model ◽

Telescope Array ◽

Cherenkov Telescope ◽

Cosmic Particle ◽

Order Of Magnitude ◽

Telescope Arrays ◽

Magnitude Improvement

The Cherenkov Telescope Array (CTA) is the major ground-based gamma-ray observatory planned for the next decade and beyond. Consisting of two large atmospheric Cherenkov telescope arrays (one in the southern hemisphere and one in the northern hemisphere), CTA will have superior angular resolution, a much wider energy range, and approximately an order of magnitude improvement in sensitivity, as compared to existing instruments. The CTA science programme will be rich and diverse, covering cosmic particle acceleration, the astrophysics of extreme environments, and physics frontiers beyond the Standard Model. This paper outlines the science goals for CTA and covers the current status of the project.

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