1997/04/11 by HEGRA Collaboration, A. Daum et al, al, A. Daum et · 2 citations
Engineering · Physics and Astronomy · #Astrophysics (astro-ph) #Astrophysics and Cosmic Phenomena #FOS: Physical sciences #Particle Accelerators and Free-Electron Lasers #Radio Astronomy Observations and Technology #astro-ph
paper · pdf · doi:10.48550/arxiv.astro-ph/9704098
19 Pages, 11 figures, Latex, uses epsf, elsart.sty
arxiv created 1997/04/11 · openalex publication_date 1997/04/11 · arxiv updated 2009/12/01 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/28
First results concerning the performance characteristics of the HEGRA IACT array are given, based on stereoscopic observations of the Crab Nebula with four telescopes. The system provides a gamma-ray energy threshold around 0.5 TeV. The Crab signal demonstrates an angular resolution of about 0.1 deg. Shape cuts allow to suppress cosmic ray background by almost a factor 100, while maintaining 40% efficiency for gamma-rays. The Crab signal is essentially background free. For longer observation times of order 100 h, the system in its present form provides sensitivity to point sources at a level of 3% of the Crab flux. Performance is expected to improve further with the inclusion of the fifth telescope and the implementation of advanced algorithms for shower reconstruction.