Wide field-of-view Cherenkov telescope for the detection of cosmic rays in coincidence with the Yakutsk extensive air shower array

TL;DR

This paper presents the development and testing of a new wide field-of-view Cherenkov telescope designed to work in conjunction with the Yakutsk array for detecting ultra-high energy cosmic rays, including its prototype specifications and modernization efforts.

Contribution

It introduces a novel Cherenkov telescope prototype with wide field-of-view capabilities for cosmic ray detection, integrated with existing array infrastructure.

Findings

Prototype telescope successfully designed, assembled, and tested.

Feasibility of the new instrument demonstrated.

Modernization of Cherenkov light detectors ongoing.

Abstract

The Yakutsk array group is developing a wide field-of-view Cherenkov telescope to be operated in coincidence with the surface detectors of the extensive air shower array. Currently, the engineering prototype of the reflecting telescope with the front-end electronics is designed, assembled, and tested to demonstrate the feasibility of the conceived instrument. The status and specifications of the prototype telescope are presented, as well as the modernization program of the already existing Cherenkov light detectors subset of the array measuring ultra-high energy cosmic rays.