Performance of the Stereoscopic System of the HEGRA Imaging Air Cherenkov Telescopes: Monte Carlo Simulations & Observations

摘要

Based on the Monte Carlo simulations we have studied the performance of theHEGRA system of imaging air Cherenkov telescopes (IACTs) in its presentconfiguration of 4 IACTs as well as in its future final configuration of 5IACTs. Here we present the results on the basic characteristics of the IACTsystem which are used in the standard data analysis procedure, i.e., thecollection areas, the detection rates, the angular resolution, the energyresolution, and the gamma/hadron-separation efficiency. By comparing severalkey Monte Carlo predictions with experimental results it is possible to checkthe accuracy of the simulations. The Monte Carlo results concerninghadron-nuclear showers are tested with the recorded cosmic ray events and theresults concerning photon-induced showers are tested with a large data sampleof gamma-rays observed from BL Lac object Mkn 501 during its high flaringactivity in 1997. Summarizing the simulations and current observations we givethe basic recommendations of using the instrument and the major values of itssensitivity.