Remote control and telescope auto-alignment system for multiangle LIDAR under development at CEILAP, Argentina

TL;DR

This paper presents a self-alignment system for a multiangle LIDAR designed for atmospheric monitoring in gamma-ray astronomy, emphasizing hardware automation and robustness in harsh conditions.

Contribution

It introduces a novel self-alignment method and automated hardware control for LIDAR telescopes operating in challenging environments.

Findings

Effective self-alignment achieved under environmental stresses

Hardware automation improves operational reliability

Enhanced measurement accuracy for aerosol optical depth

Abstract

At CEILAP (CITEDEF-CONICET), a multiangle LIDAR is under development to monitor aerosol extinction coefficients in the frame of the CTA (Cherenkov Telescope Array) Project. This is an initiative to build the next generation of ground-based instruments to collect very high energy gamma-ray radiation (>10 GeV). The atmospheric conditions are very important for CTA observations, and LIDARs play an important role in the measurement of the aerosol optical depth at any direction. The LIDAR being developed at CEILAP was conceived to operate in harsh environmental conditions during the shifts, and these working conditions may produce misalignments. To minimize these effects, the telescopes comprising the reception unit are controlled by a self-alignment system. This paper describes the self-alignment method and hardware automation.