VERITAS

VERITAS
The VERITAS (Very Energetic Radiation Imaging Telescope ArraySystem) array is designed to close the energy gap and give greater resolutionthan ever before. VERITAS (formerly VHEGRA and ATHENA) is an array of nine 10m reflectors arranged with three high resolution cameras (541 PMTs) in themiddle surrounded by 6 telescopes employing lower resolution cameras (331PMTs). Each of these different reflectors would be networked together andutilize the same imaging technique as the Whipple 10 m reflector. In fact,upon completion, VERITAS would incorporate the present Whipple telescope. Through Monte Carlo simulations, it was calculated that the energy threshold of an array of this sort would be as low as 50 GeV, and, with anticipated newtechnologies, would be lowered to 30 GeV. This would completely eliminate theenergy gap. What's more, the resolution of VERITAS would be significantlybetter than any telescope in the world now or on the drawing board, thusallowing for more pinpoint identification of sources. Also, VERITAS would beable to discriminate gamma ray showers from cosmic rays with a 99% efficiency.

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