NectarCAM, a camera for the medium sized telescopes of the Cherenkov Telescope Array

Abstract

NectarCAM is a camera proposed for the medium-sized telescopes of the Cherenkov Telescope Array (CTA) which covers the core energy range of ~100 GeV to ~30 TeV. It has a modular design and is based on the NECTAr chip, at the heart of which is a GHz sampling Switched Capacitor Array and 12-bit Analog to Digital converter. The camera will be equipped with 265 7-photomultiplier modules, covering a field of view of 8 degrees. Each module includes photomultiplier bases, high voltage supply, pre-amplifier, trigger, readout and Ethernet transceiver. The recorded events last between a few nanoseconds and tens of nanoseconds. The expected performance of the camera are discussed. Prototypes of NectarCAM components have been built to validate the design. Preliminary results of a 19-module mini-camera are presented, as well as future plans for building and testing a full size camera.

arXiv commentContribution to the Heidelberg International Symposium on High Energy Gamma Ray Astronomy (Gamma2016). arXiv admin note: text overlap with arXiv:1508.06555

References in corpus (4)

• A versatile digital camera trigger for telescopes in the Cherenkov Telescope Array
• Status and Plans for the Array Control and Data Acquisition System of the Cherenkov Telescope Array
• A major electronics upgrade for the H.E.S.S. Cherenkov telescopes 1-4
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Cited by in corpus (6)

• Monte Carlo studies for the optimisation of the Cherenkov Telescope Array layout
• Using Muon Rings for the Calibration of the Cherenkov Telescope Array: A Systematic Review of the Method and its Potential Accuracy
• Measurement of performance of the NectarCAM photodetectors
• Design and characterization of a single photoelectron calibration system for the NectarCAM camera of the medium-sized telescopes of the Cherenkov Telescope Array
• Impact of Laser Guide Star facilities on neighbouring telescopes: The case of GTC, TMT, VLT and ELT lasers and the Cherenkov Telescope Array
• Cherenkov Telescope Array Status Report