Future imaging atmospheric telescopes: performance of possible array configurations for gamma photons in the GeV-TeV range

TL;DR

This paper evaluates various configurations of future Imaging Atmospheric Cherenkov Telescope arrays, analyzing their performance in gamma-ray source and energy reconstruction across different altitudes to guide optimal design.

Contribution

It introduces a simulation tool for assessing the performance of diverse IACT array configurations in gamma-ray astronomy.

Findings

Performance varies with array configuration and observation altitude.

The simulation provides detailed accuracy metrics for source and energy reconstruction.

Results inform optimal design choices for next-generation gamma-ray telescopes.

Abstract

The future of ground based gamma ray astronomy lies in large arrays of Imaging Atmospheric Cherenkov Telescopes (IACT) with better capabilities: lower energy threshold, higher sensitivity, better resolution and background rejection. Currently, designs for the next generation of IACT arrays are being explored by various groups. We have studied possible configurations with a large number of telescopes of various sizes. Here, we present the precision of source, shower core and energy reconstruction for gamma rays in the GeV-TeV range for different altitudes of observation. These results were obtained through tools that we have developed in order to simulate any type of IACT configuration and evaluate its performance.