Towards the ASTRI mini-array

TL;DR

This paper discusses the design, simulation, and expected performance of the ASTRI mini-array, a prototype and part of the CTA's high-energy gamma-ray detection system, focusing on its layout and capabilities.

Contribution

It introduces the ASTRI mini-array concept, detailing its expected performance metrics and layout optimization within the CTA high-energy telescope array.

Findings

Predicted energy threshold for the mini-array

Expected angular and energy resolution

Sensitivity estimates for the mini-array

Abstract

The Cherenkov Telescope Array (CTA) will consist of an array of three types of telescopes covering a wide energy range, from tens of GeV up to more than 100 TeV. The high energy section (> 3 TeV) will be covered by the Small Size Telescopes (SST). ASTRI (Astrofisica con Specchi a Tecnologia Replicante Italiana) is a flagship project of the Italian Ministry of Research and Education led by INAF, aiming at the design and construction of a prototype of the Dual Mirror SST. In a second phase the ASTRI project foresees the installation of the first elements of the SST array at the CTA southern site, a mini-array of 5-7 telescopes. The optimization of the layout of this mini-array embedded in the SST array of the CTA Observatory has been the object of an intense simulation effort. In this work we present the expected mini-array performance in terms of energy threshold, angular and energy resolution and sensitivity.