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FACT - Novel mirror alignment using bokeh and enhancement of the VERITAS SCCAN alignment method

Authors :
Müller, Sebastian
Ahnen, Max M.L.
Balbo, Matteo
Bergmann, Matthias
Biland, Adrian
Bretz, Thomas
Brügge, Kai K.A.
Buss, Jens
Dorner, Daniela
Einecke, Sabrina
Freiwald, J.
Hempfling, Christina
Hildebrand, Dorothée
Hughes, Gareth
Lustermann, Werner
Mannheim, Karl
Meier, Katja
Neise, Dominik
Neronov, Andrii
Nöthe, Max
Overkemping, A.K.
Paravac, Aleksander
Pauss, Felicitas
Rhode, Wolfgang
Temme, Fabian
Thaele, Julia
Toscano, Simona
Vogler, Patrick
Walter, Roland
Wilbert, A.
Müller, Sebastian
Ahnen, Max M.L.
Balbo, Matteo
Bergmann, Matthias
Biland, Adrian
Bretz, Thomas
Brügge, Kai K.A.
Buss, Jens
Dorner, Daniela
Einecke, Sabrina
Freiwald, J.
Hempfling, Christina
Hildebrand, Dorothée
Hughes, Gareth
Lustermann, Werner
Mannheim, Karl
Meier, Katja
Neise, Dominik
Neronov, Andrii
Nöthe, Max
Overkemping, A.K.
Paravac, Aleksander
Pauss, Felicitas
Rhode, Wolfgang
Temme, Fabian
Thaele, Julia
Toscano, Simona
Vogler, Patrick
Walter, Roland
Wilbert, A.
Source :
Pos proceedings of science, 30-July-2015
Publication Year :
2015

Abstract

Imaging Air Cherenkov Telescopes, including the First G-APD Cherenkov Telescope (FACT), use segmented reflectors. These offer large and fast apertures for little resources. However, one challenge is the alignment of the mirrors to gain a sharp image. For Cherenkov telescopes, high spatial and temporal resolution is crucial to reconstruct air shower events. Therefore one has to align the individual mirror positions and orientations precisely. Alignment is difficult due to the large number of degrees of freedom and, because most techniques involve a star, has to be done during good weather nights which overlaps with observation time. We present the mirror alignment of FACT, done using two methods. Firstly, we show a new method which we call Bokeh alignment. This method is simple, cheap and can even be done during daytime. Secondly, we demonstrate an enhancement of the SCCAN method by F. Arqueros et al. and first implemented by the McGill VERITAS group. Using a second camera, our enhanced SCCAN is optimized for changing weather, changing zenith distance, and changing reference stars. Developed off site in the lab on a 1/10th scale model of FACT, both our methods resulted in a highly telescope independent procedure, e.g. both our methods run without communication to the telescope's drive. We compare alignment results by using the point spread function of star images, ray tracing simulations, and overall muon rates before and after the alignment.<br />SCOPUS: cp.p<br />info:eu-repo/semantics/published

Details

Database :
OAIster
Journal :
Pos proceedings of science, 30-July-2015
Notes :
No full-text files, English
Publication Type :
Electronic Resource
Accession number :
edsoai.on1192451519
Document Type :
Electronic Resource