Optical performance related to mechanical deformations of a Davies-Cotton mount for the high energy section of the Cherenkov Telescope Array

A.C. ROVERO; A.D. SUPANITSKY; M. ACTIS, P. RINGEGNI, F. ANTICO, A. BOTANI, G. VALLEJO, I. OCHOA, G HUGHES (DESY), AND D. MARCONI FOR THE CTA CONSORTIUM

Beiging

Conferencia; 32nd International Cosmic Ray Conference; 2011

The Cherenkov Telescope Array is the next generation ground-based instrument for the observation of very- high-energy gamma-rays. It will provide an order of magnitude more sensitivity and better angular and energy resolution than present systems as well as an increased energy range. For the high energy portion of this range, the construction of ∼ 6m diameter Cherenkov telescopes is an option under study. We have proposed an innovative design of a Davies- Cotton mount for such a telescope, within Cherenkov Telescope Array specifications, and evaluated its mechanical and optical performance. The mount is a reticulated-type structure with steel tubes and tensioned wires. It consists of three main parts to be assembled on site. In this work we focus on the study of the point-spread-function of collected light for different mirror facet sizes and telescope positions, related to mount deformations.