16 - 21 June 2024
Yokohama, Japan
Conference 13100 > Paper 13100-4
Paper 13100-4

Update of the optical configuration and performance of the Gamma-Ray telescope pGCT, a prototype for imaging atmospheric Cherenkov telescopes

On demand | Presented live 16 June 2024

Abstract

The prototype of Gamma-ray Cherenkov Telescope (pGCT) is an Imaging Atmospheric Cherenkov Telescope (IACT) developed to detect Very High Energy (VHE) from various cosmic sources emitting gamma rays. It is based on a Schwarzschild-Couder (SC) dual-mirror configuration resulting in a compact telescope and an optimised PSF over a wide field of view. Moreover, some innovative features were implemented with the aim to ease and to fasten the assembly, integration, test (AIT) and maintenance activities. Both mirrors, the 4-meter tessellated primary mirror and the secondary mirror, are aspherical lightweight mirrors made by a subtractive manufacturing method. This process was improved several times leading to enhanced optical performance of the telescope in terms of Point Spread Function and improved signal to noise ratio. This paper deals with the optomechanical design of the pGCT and its latest measured performance. After a brief overview of the mechanical design of the telescope, the updated manufacturing process of the new generation mirrors and the optical performance of pGCT are given. Finally, recent operational performance of the telescope is given.

Presenter

Galaxies Etoiles Physique Instrumentation (France)
Dr Jean-Laurent Dournaux has worked in the Observatoire de Paris – PSL, CNRS since 2007 as a mechanical engineer. He joined the CNRS after a PhD in material science. He was involved in the design of the pGCT for the finite-element analyses, which helps to validate and to optimise the proposed design through the application of structural optimisation methods. He is currently always involved in the CTA project since he has joined the CTA-SST project since 2021.
Application tracks: Astrophotonics
Author
Julien Cailleux
Galaxies Etoiles Physique Instrumentation (France), Observatoire de Paris, CNRS (France), Univ. PSL (France)
Presenter/Author
Galaxies Etoiles Physique Instrumentation (France)
Author
Gilles Fasola
Galaxies Etoiles Physique Instrumentation (France)
Author
Galaxies Etoiles Physique Instrumentation (France)
Author
Galaxies Etoiles Physique Instrumentation (France)
Author
Jean-Philippe Amans
Galaxies Etoiles Physique Instrumentation (France)
Author
Jean-Michel Huet
Galaxies Etoiles Physique Instrumentation (France)
Author
Galaxies Etoiles Physique Instrumentation (France)
Author
Hélène Sol
Observatoire de Paris à Meudon (France), Observatoire de Paris, CNRS (France), Univ. PSL (France)