Prototyping Hexagonal Light Concentrators Using High-Reflectance Specular Films for the Large-Sized Telescopes of the Cherenkov Telescope Array

Abstract

We have developed a prototype hexagonal light concentrator for the Large-Sized Telescopes of the Cherenkov Telescope Array. To maximize the photodetection efficiency of the focal-plane camera pixels for atmospheric Cherenkov photons and to lower the energy threshold, a specular film with a very high reflectance of 92-99% has been developed to cover the inner surfaces of the light concentrators. The prototype has a relative anode sensitivity (which can be roughly regarded as collection efficiency) of about 95 to 105% at the most important angles of incidence. The design, simulation, production procedure, and performance measurements of the light-concentrator prototype are reported.

21 pages, 14 figures, accepted for publication in JINST

References in corpus (3)

• The optical system of the H.E.S.S. imaging atmospheric Cherenkov telescopes, Part I: layout and components of the system
• High Energy Gamma-Ray Observations of the Crab Nebula and Pulsar with the Solar Tower Atmospheric Cherenkov Effect Experiment
• Optimization of the Collection Efficiency of a Hexagonal Light Collector using Quadratic and Cubic Bézier Curves

Cited by in corpus (5)

• Using Muon Rings for the Calibration of the Cherenkov Telescope Array: A Systematic Review of the Method and its Potential Accuracy
• The Light-Trap: A novel concept for a large SiPM-based pixel for Very High Energy gamma-ray astronomy and beyond
• Development of a SiPM Pixel Prototype for the Large-Sized Telescope of the Cherenkov Telescope Array
• Development and Quality Control of PMT Modules for the Large-Sized Telescopes of the Cherenkov Telescope Array Observatory
• A study on Performance Boost of a 17~m class Cherenkov telescope with a SiPM-based camera