Update of the optical configuration and performance of the Gamma-Ray telescope pGCT, a prototype for imaging atmospheric Cherenkov telescopes

The prototype of Gamma-ray Cherenkov Telescope (pGCT) is an Imaging Atmospheric Cherenkov Telescope (IACT) developed to detect Very High Energy (VHE) from various cosmic sources emitting gamma rays. It is based on a Schwarzschild-Couder (SC) dual-mirror configuration resulting in a compact telescope and an optimised PSF over a wide field of view. Moreover, some innovative features were implemented with the aim to ease and to fasten the assembly, integration, test (AIT) and maintenance activities. Both mirrors, the 4-meter tessellated primary mirror and the secondary mirror, are aspherical lightweight mirrors made by a subtractive manufacturing method. This process was improved several times leading to enhanced optical performance of the telescope in terms of Point Spread Function and improved signal to noise ratio. This paper deals with the optomechanical design of the pGCT and its latest measured performance. After a brief overview of the mechanical design of the telescope, the updated manufacturing process of the new generation mirrors and the optical performance of pGCT are given. Finally, recent operational performance of the telescope is given.

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Published
2024-08-26
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1117/12.3018744
Primary Topic
Adaptive optics and wavefront sensing
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article
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article

Update of the optical configuration and performance of the Gamma-Ray telescope pGCT, a prototype for imaging atmospheric Cherenkov telescopes

Jean-Laurent R. Dournaux, F. De Frondat, Emma Rébert, G. Fasola et al.
Adaptive optics and wavefront sensing
article

Update of the optical configuration and performance of the Gamma-Ray telescope pGCT, a prototype for imaging atmospheric Cherenkov telescopes

Jean-Laurent R. Dournaux, F. De Frondat, Emma Rébert, G. Fasola, Julien Cailleux, Hélène Sol, Philippe Laporte, Jean-Michel Huet, Jean-Philippe Amans
article en

Abstract

The prototype of Gamma-ray Cherenkov Telescope (pGCT) is an Imaging Atmospheric Cherenkov Telescope (IACT) developed to detect Very High Energy (VHE) from various cosmic sources emitting gamma rays. It is based on a Schwarzschild-Couder (SC) dual-mirror configuration resulting in a compact telescope and an optimised PSF over a wide field of view. Moreover, some innovative features were implemented with the aim to ease and to fasten the assembly, integration, test (AIT) and maintenance activities. Both mirrors, the 4-meter tessellated primary mirror and the secondary mirror, are aspherical lightweight mirrors made by a subtractive manufacturing method. This process was improved several times leading to enhanced optical performance of the telescope in terms of Point Spread Function and improved signal to noise ratio. This paper deals with the optomechanical design of the pGCT and its latest measured performance. After a brief overview of the mechanical design of the telescope, the updated manufacturing process of the new generation mirrors and the optical performance of pGCT are given. Finally, recent operational performance of the telescope is given.

Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (FR), Janssen (France) (FR), Laboratoire Univers et Théories (FR), Galaxies, Etoiles, Physique et Instrumentation (FR)
Affordable and clean energy
Openalex Percentile: Top 88%
Adaptive optics and wavefront sensing
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Update of the optical configuration and performance of the Gamma-Ray telescope pGCT, a prototype for imaging atmospheric Cherenkov telescopes — Jean-Laurent R. Dournaux, F. De Frondat, et al. · (2024) | TGRS Research Map | TGRS