Performance of the Cherenkov Telescope Array at energies above 10 TeV

TL;DR

This paper evaluates the optimal spacing of Small Size Telescopes in the Cherenkov Telescope Array to maximize sensitivity for gamma-ray detection above 10 TeV, balancing cost and performance.

Contribution

It introduces an analytical and simulation-based approach to determine the optimal telescope spacing for the CTA's SST array.

Findings

Optimal telescope spacing improves sensitivity and resolution.

Larger separation increases effective area but can reduce energy threshold.

The study provides guidelines for telescope array configuration.

Abstract

The Cherenkov Telescope Array (CTA) is the next generation observatory for very high energy gamma rays. The capability of the array to detect gamma-rays above 10 TeV is going to be achieved with a large number of Small Size Telescopes (SSTs) which will cover a large area. The subarray composed of SSTs has to compromise the number of telescopes (cost) and the large effective area. The separation between the telescopes has to be adjusted to achieve highest sensitivity with the smallest number of telescopes. On the other hand larger separation can worsen the energy threshold as well as the energy and angular resolutions. In our study we have investigated the optimal spacing between the telescopes of the SST array using an analytical approach and the concept of telescope cell consisting of four telescopes as well as Monte Carlo simulations of the sets of cells.