Towards the Deployment of the First NectarCAM, a Medium-Sized-Telescope Camera for the Cherenkov Telescope Array Observatory

TL;DR

NectarCAM is a high-speed, high-resolution Cherenkov camera designed for gamma-ray detection in the CTA Observatory, with recent performance evaluations, calibration techniques, and production plans outlined.

Contribution

This paper presents the design, calibration, and performance evaluation of NectarCAM, the first medium-sized telescope camera for the Cherenkov Telescope Array.

Findings

NectarCAM demonstrates excellent time and charge resolution.

Calibration techniques have been successfully implemented.

First units are scheduled for shipment by Summer 2026.

Abstract

NectarCAM is a Cherenkov camera designed to detect gamma rays with energies between 80 GeV and 50 TeV. It will equip nine medium-sized telescopes (MSTs) of the Cherenkov Telescope Array Observatory. NectarCAM consists of 1855 pixels distributed over 265 modules. Each pixel consists of a photomultiplier tube that is connected to a NECTAr3 chip. This NECTAr3 chip contains a 12-bit digitizer with a GHz sampling rate, and has a typical readout deadtime of ${\sim}0.7$ $\mu$s. In these proceedings, we highlight the performance of the NectarCAM in terms of time resolution and charge resolution. We also present the latest calibration techniques that were recently implemented for the camera. Finally, we briefly present the current status and plans of the NectarCAM production; the first production-line NectarCAM will be ready for shipment by Summer 2026, and it is planned to equip one of the MST pathfinders of CTAO.