# Correcting Imaging Atmospheric Cherenkov Telescope data with atmospheric profiles obtained with an elastic light detecting and ranging system

## TL;DR

This study develops and evaluates methods to correct gamma-ray data from MAGIC telescopes using atmospheric aerosol profiles obtained with LIDAR, enabling accurate data analysis under various atmospheric conditions including clouds.

## Contribution

The paper introduces novel correction schemes that utilize LIDAR-derived aerosol profiles to improve gamma-ray data reconstruction in atmospheric Cherenkov telescopes.

## Key findings

- Corrections enable data analysis with aerosol transmissions down to 0.65.
- Systematic uncertainties are comparable to optimal conditions.
- First inclusion of cloud-affected data correction in assessment.

## Abstract

Context. We are operating an elastic LIDAR for the monitoring of atmospheric conditions during regular observations of the MAGIC Telescopes. Aims. We present and evaluate methods to convert aerosol extinction profiles, obtained with the LIDAR, into corrections of the reconstructed gamma-ray event energy and Instrument Response Functions of Imaging Atmospheric Cherenkov Telescopes. Methods. We assess the performance of these correction schemes with almost seven years of Crab Nebula data taken by the MAGIC Telescopes under various zenith angles and different aerosol extinction scenarios of Cherenkov light. Results. The methods enable the reconstruction of data taken under non-optimal atmospheric conditions with aerosol transmissions down to around 0.65 with systematic uncertainties comparable to those for data taken under optimal conditions. For the first time, the correction of data affected by clouds has been included in the assessment. The data can also be corrected when the transmission is lower than 0.65, but the results are less accurate and suffer from larger systematics.