Performance of the VERITAS experiment

TL;DR

VERITAS is a ground-based gamma-ray observatory with four telescopes, capable of detecting high-energy gamma rays, and has demonstrated significant performance improvements over seven years through key upgrades.

Contribution

This paper evaluates the performance of VERITAS and details how its capabilities have improved following major upgrades since 2007.

Findings

Enhanced sensitivity to gamma-ray sources

Successful detection of gamma rays from astrophysical sources

Performance improvements after telescope upgrades

Abstract

VERITAS is a ground-based gamma-ray instrument operating at the Fred Lawrence Whipple Observatory in southern Arizona. With an array of four imaging atmospheric Cherenkov telescopes (IACTs), VERITAS is designed to measure gamma rays with energies from $\sim$ 85 GeV up to > 30 TeV. It has a sensitivity to detect a point source with a flux of 1$\%$ of the Crab Nebula flux within 25 hours. Since its first light observation in 2007, VERITAS has continued its successful mission for over seven years with two major upgrades: the relocation of telescope 1 in 2009 and a camera upgrade in 2012. We present the performance of VERITAS and how it has improved with these upgrades.