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The Optical Layout Of The HEGRA Cherenkov Telescopes

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Abstract

The raytracing technique was used to derive a suitable design for the HEGRA system of Cherenkov telescopes, which is at present commissioned at La Palma. The reflectors with a diameter of ∼ 3.9 m consist of 30 spherical mirrors with focal lengths in the range of 4.88 – 4.94 m. It is shown that 93% of the photons from the Cherenkov light emitted by an extended air shower are contained in the camera pixels, 0.25° in diameter, for the full field of view of ϑ = ± 2.5°. The optical performance of the HEGRA design is compared to other layouts.

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Akhperjanian, A., Kankanian, R., Sahakian, V. et al. The Optical Layout Of The HEGRA Cherenkov Telescopes. Experimental Astronomy 8, 135–152 (1998). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1007915512981

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