Status of the Schwarzchild-Couder Medium-Sized Telescope for the Cherenkov Telescope Array

TL;DR

This paper reports on the development and current status of the Schwarzchild-Couder medium-sized telescope, a key component of the Cherenkov Telescope Array, aimed at advancing gamma-ray astronomy with improved sensitivity.

Contribution

It provides an update on the construction and progress of the Schwarzchild-Couder telescope as a prototype for CTA's medium-sized telescopes.

Findings

Construction of the telescope is underway and expected to complete in early 2017.

The telescope design is a candidate for CTA's medium-sized telescopes.

The project demonstrates the feasibility of the Schwarzchild-Couder design for gamma-ray observations.

Abstract

The Cherenkov Telescope Array (CTA) is planned to be the next-generation very-high-energy (VHE; E > 100 GeV) gamma-ray observatory. It is anticipated that CTA will improve upon the sensitivity of the current generation of VHE experiments, such as VERITAS, HESS and MAGIC, by an order of magnitude. CTA is planned to consist of two graded arrays of Cherenkov telescopes with three primary-mirror sizes. A proof-of-concept telescope, based on the dual-mirror Schwarzchild-Couder design, is being constructed on the VERITAS site at the F.L. Whipple Observatory in southern Arizona, USA, and is a candidate design for the medium-sized telescopes. The construction of the telescope will be completed in early 2017, and the status of this project is presented here.