Calibration Strategy of the Cherenkov Telescope Array
Journal
Date Issued
2015
Author(s)
Gaug, M.
•
Daniel, M.
•
Berge, D.
•
de los Reyes, R.
•
Doro, M.
•
Forster, A.
•
•
Parsons, D.
•
van Eldik, C.
Abstract
The construction of the Cherenkov Telescope Array 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.
Coverage
34th International Cosmic Ray Conference (ICRC2015)
Volume
34
Start page
929
Conferenece
34th ICRC
Conferenece place
The Hague, Netherlands
Conferenece date
July 30 - August 6, 2015
Issn Identifier
1824-8039
Ads BibCode
2015ICRC...34..929G
Rights
open.access
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