The relevance of fluorescence radiation in Cherenkov telescopes

TL;DR

This paper evaluates the impact of atmospheric fluorescence on Cherenkov telescope signals and explores the potential for using these telescopes as fluorescence detectors through simulations and geometrical analysis.

Contribution

It provides the first detailed assessment of fluorescence contamination in Cherenkov telescopes and discusses their potential dual use as fluorescence detectors.

Findings

Fluorescence contamination can significantly affect Cherenkov signals.

Simulations show the level of fluorescence contribution varies with observational conditions.

Feasibility of Cherenkov telescopes functioning as fluorescence detectors is demonstrated.

Abstract

Cherenkov telescopes are also sensitive to the atmospheric fluorescence produced by the extensive air showers. However this contribution is neglected by the reconstruction algorithms of imaging air Cherenkov telescopes IACTs and wide-angle Cherenkov detectors WACDs. In this paper we evaluate the fluorescence contamination in the Cherenkov signals from MC simulations in both kinds of Cherenkov telescopes and for some typical observational situations. Results for an observation level of 2200 m a.s.l. are shown. In addition, the feasibility and capabilities of IACTs working as fluorescence telescopes are discussed with the assistance of some geometrical calculations.