The Astri Mini-Array of Cherenkov Telescopes [HEAP]

http://arxiv.org/abs/2303.14079


We will describe the current status of the ASTRI Mini-Array, under construction at the Teide Astronomical Observatory in Tenerife, Spain. The final layout of the array will include nine small Cherenkov telescopes covering an area of about 650 x 270 square meters. The ASTRI telescopes adopt a dual-mirror Schwarzchild-Couder aplanatic optical design. In the focal plane, the ASTRI camera, based on silicon photo-multiplier detectors, will cover a large field-of-view ( > 10 deg in diameter). This system also provides good gamma-ray sensitivity at very high energies (VHE, above 10 TeV) combined with a good angular resolution. The scientific goals of the ASTRI Mini-Array include spectral and morphological characterization of the LHAASO sources and other Pevatron candidates, studies of PWNe and TeV halos, Blazar monitoring at VHE, fundamental physics and follow-up of transient events. The beginning of the scientific operations is planned for mid 2025. The first three years will be dedicated to the core science and the ASTRI Mini-Array will be run as an experiment. It will gradually move towards an observatory model in the following years, open to the community.

Read this paper on arXiv…

A. Giuliani
Mon, 27 Mar 23
6/59

Comments: Accepted Proceeding of the “7th Heidelberg International Symposium on High-Energy Gamma-Ray Astronomy (Gamma2022)”, 4-8 July 2022, Barcelona, Spain