Detection of Initial Cherenkov Radiation with the MST FlashCam Prototype
The Medium-Sized Telescope (MST), a crucial component of the Cherenkov Telescope Array (CTA) project, has successfully recorded its first Cherenkov light on September 18, 2022, following the integration of its camera with the telescope structure. This significant milestone marks the MST's progress towards pre-production readiness.
The MST, designed and built by an international consortium of institutes and universities from Brazil, Germany, France, Italy, and Poland, is intended to cover the mid-range of CTA's energy spectrum (100 GeV to 10 TeV). Institutions from France, Italy, and Poland will supply the mirrors for the MST structure.
The MST's camera, the FlashCam, is a fully digital camera designed specifically for CTA telescopes. The camera was installed and tested within 36 hours of its arrival from Heidelberg. The universities of Zurich, Erlangen, Tübingen, Innsbruck, and the Max Planck Institute for Nuclear Physics in Heidelberg are driving the FlashCam project.
The MST-STR project was led by Markus Garczarczyk (DESY), while the FlashCam project was led by German Hermann (MPIK). In September 2017, the MST-STR and FlashCam teams conducted a joint test campaign in Berlin-Adlershof, which validated the interfaces and integration procedure of the telescope and camera, mirror alignment processes, and the routine and remote operation of both.
The test campaign also confirmed the telescope's and camera's resilience in harsh environmental conditions, as an unanticipated visit from storm Xavier further tested their capabilities. Following the successful first light, the MST camera was dismantled and returned to Heidelberg for further lab testing.
The MST structure will continue to be operated and tested in Berlin for another year. Markus Garczarczyk expressed gratitude for the efficient collaboration between the FlashCam and MST-STR teams, stating that everything functioned as expected, and the system integration was smoother than anticipated.
The MST is planned for both northern and southern hemisphere arrays, with 25 in the south and 15 in the north. While details about the MST's first light test, including technical outcomes and collaborations, are not widely available, further updates on the MST project and the Cherenkov Telescope Array are expected to provide more information in the future.
The MST, a collaborative effort between international institutes and universities, is specifically designed for the mid-range of the Cherenkov Telescope Array's energy spectrum and is equipped with a digital camera, the FlashCam, developed by German and European institutions. The successful first light recorded by the MST on September 18, 2022, underscores the integration of advanced science, space-and-astronomy, and technology in the pursuit of unraveling cosmic mysteries.
