Monte Carlo Studies of Combined MAGIC and LST1 Observations

TL;DR

This paper explores the potential benefits of co-locating and combining observations from the LST1 telescope and MAGIC system to improve gamma-ray astronomy performance through cross-calibration.

Contribution

It presents an analysis of the combined observational capabilities of LST1 and MAGIC, highlighting the potential for enhanced calibration and performance in gamma-ray detection.

Findings

Potential for improved cross-calibration between LST1 and MAGIC.

Enhanced event reconstruction accuracy through combined data.

Feasibility of joint observations for better gamma-ray source characterization.

Abstract

The Cherenkov Telescope Array (CTA) is the next generation very high energy gamma-ray observatory covering the 20 GeV - 300 TeV energy range with unprecedented sensitivity, angular and energy resolution. With a site in each hemisphere, CTA will provide full-sky coverage. Four Large Size Telescopes (LSTs) in each site will be dedicated to the lowest energy range (20 GeV - 200 GeV). The first LST prototype has been installed at the CTA Northern site (Canary Island of La Palma, Spain) in October 2018 and it had been since then in commissioning phase. LST1 is located at about 100 m from MAGIC, a system of two 17m-diameter Imaging Atmospheric Cherenkov Telescopes designed to perform gamma-ray astronomy in the energy range from 50 GeV with standard trigger (30 GeV with SumTrigger) to 50 TeV and whose performance is very well established. The co-location of LST1 and MAGIC offers the great opportunity of cross-calibrating the two systems on an event-by-event basis. It will be indeed possible to compare the parameters of the same extensive air shower reconstructed by the two instruments. We investigated the performance that could be reached with combined observations.