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Raman LIDARs and atmospheric calibration along the line-of-sight of the Cherenkov Telescope ArraySamo Stanič,
Longlong Wang,
Marko Zavrtanik, 2019, published scientific conference contribution
Abstract: The Cherenkov Telescope Array (CTA) is the next generation ground-based observatory for
gamma-ray astronomy at very-high energies. Employing more than 100 (north and south sites)
Imaging Atmospheric Cherenkov Telescopes in the northern and southern hemispheres, it was
designed to reach unprecedented sensitivity and energy resolution. Understanding and correcting
for systematic biases on the absolute energy scale and instrument response functions will be a cru-
cial issue for the performance of CTA. The Montpellier group and the Spanish/Italian/Slovenian
collaboration are currently building two Raman LIDAR prototypes for the online atmospheric cal-
ibration along the line-of-sight of the CTA. Requirements for such a solution include the ability
to characterize aerosol extinction at two wavelengths to distances up to 30 km with an accuracy
better than 5%, within exposure time scales of about a minute, steering capabilities and close
interaction with the CTA array control and data acquisition system as well as other auxiliary in-
struments. Our Raman LIDARs have design features that make them different from those used
in atmospheric science and are characterized by large collecting mirrors (∼2.5 m 2 ), liquid light-
guides that collect the light at the focal plane and transport it to the readout system, reduced
acquisition time and highly precise Raman spectrometers. The Raman LIDARs will participate in
a cross-calibration and characterization campaign of the atmosphere at the CTA North site at La
Palma, together with other site characterization instruments. After a one-year test period there, an
in-depth evaluation of the solutions adopted by the two projects will lead to a final Raman LIDAR
design proposal for both CTA sites.
Keywords: Raman lidar atmospheric calibration Cherenkov Telescope Array
Published in RUNG: 29.08.2019; Views: 4350; Downloads: 104
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