Design and Operation of FACT -- The First G-APD Cherenkov Telescope

摘要

The First G-APD Cherenkov Telescope (FACT) is designed to detect cosmicgamma-rays with energies from several hundred GeV up to about 10 TeV using theImaging Atmospheric Cherenkov Technique. In contrast to former or existingtelescopes, the camera of the FACT telescope is comprised of solid-stateGeiger-mode Avalanche Photodiodes (G-APD) instead of photomultiplier tubes forphoto detection. It is the first full-scale device of its kind employing thisnew technology. The telescope is operated at the Observatorio del Roque de losMuchachos (La Palma, Canary Islands, Spain) since fall 2011. This paperdescribes in detail the design, construction and operation of the system,including hardware and software aspects. Technical experiences gained after oneyear of operation are discussed and conclusions with regard to future projectsare drawn.