Acta Polytechnica (Jun 2014)
FACT — STATUS AND FIRST RESULTS
- Daniela Dorner,
- A. Biland,
- T. Bretz,
- J. Buss,
- S. Einecke,
- D. Eisenacher,
- D. Hildebrand,
- M. L. Knoetig,
- T. Krähenbühl,
- W. Lustermann,
- K. Mannheim,
- K. Meier,
- D. Neise,
- A.-K. Overkemping,
- A. Paravac,
- F. Pauss,
- W. Rhode,
- M. Ribordy,
- T. Steinbring,
- F. Temme,
- J. Thaele,
- P. Vogler,
- R. Walter,
- Q. Weitzel,
- M. Zänglein
Affiliations
- Daniela Dorner
- Universität Würzburg, Germany Institute for Theoretical Physics and Astrophysics, 97074 Würzburg
- A. Biland
- Institute for Particle Physics, Schafmattstr. 20, 8093 Zurich
- T. Bretz
- Institute for Particle Physics, Schafmattstr. 20, 8093 Zurich
- J. Buss
- Technische Universität Dortmund, Germany — Experimental Physics 5, Otto-Hahn-Str. 4, 44221 Dortmund
- S. Einecke
- Technische Universität Dortmund, Germany — Experimental Physics 5, Otto-Hahn-Str. 4, 44221 Dortmund
- D. Eisenacher
- Universität Würzburg, Germany — Institute for Theoretical Physics and Astrophysics, 97074 Würzburg
- D. Hildebrand
- ETH Zurich, Switzerland — Institute for Particle Physics, Schafmattstr. 20, 8093 Zurich
- M. L. Knoetig
- ETH Zurich, Switzerland — Institute for Particle Physics, Schafmattstr. 20, 8093 Zurich
- T. Krähenbühl
- ETH Zurich, Switzerland — Institute for Particle Physics, Schafmattstr. 20, 8093 Zurich
- W. Lustermann
- ETH Zurich, Switzerland — Institute for Particle Physics, Schafmattstr. 20, 8093 Zurich
- K. Mannheim
- Universität Würzburg, Germany — Institute for Theoretical Physics and Astrophysics, 97074 Würzburg
- K. Meier
- Universität Würzburg, Germany — Institute for Theoretical Physics and Astrophysics, 97074 Würzburg
- D. Neise
- Technische Universität Dortmund, Germany — Experimental Physics 5, Otto-Hahn-Str. 4, 44221 Dortmund
- A.-K. Overkemping
- Technische Universität Dortmund, Germany — Experimental Physics 5, Otto-Hahn-Str. 4, 44221 Dortmund
- A. Paravac
- Universität Würzburg, Germany — Institute for Theoretical Physics and Astrophysics, 97074 Würzburg
- F. Pauss
- ETH Zurich, Switzerland — Institute for Particle Physics, Schafmattstr. 20, 8093 Zurich
- W. Rhode
- Technische Universität Dortmund, Germany — Experimental Physics 5, Otto-Hahn-Str. 4, 44221 Dortmund
- M. Ribordy
- EPF Lausanne, Switzerland — Laboratory for High Energy Physics, 1015 Lausanne
- T. Steinbring
- Universität Würzburg, Germany — Institute for Theoretical Physics and Astrophysics, 97074 Würzburg
- F. Temme
- Technische Universität Dortmund, Germany — Experimental Physics 5, Otto-Hahn-Str. 4, 44221 Dortmund
- J. Thaele
- Technische Universität Dortmund, Germany — Experimental Physics 5, Otto-Hahn-Str. 4, 44221 Dortmund
- P. Vogler
- ETH Zurich, Switzerland — Institute for Particle Physics, Schafmattstr. 20, 8093 Zurich
- R. Walter
- University of Geneva, Switzerland — ISDC Data Center for Astrophysics, Chemin d’Ecogia 16, 1290 Versoix
- Q. Weitzel
- ETH Zurich, Switzerland — Institute for Particle Physics, Schafmattstr. 20, 8093 Zurich
- M. Zänglein
- Universität Würzburg, Germany — Institute for Theoretical Physics and Astrophysics, 97074 Würzburg
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.14311/AP.2014.54.0173
- Journal volume & issue
-
Vol. 54,
no. 3
pp. 173 – 176
Abstract
FACT is the first imaging Cherenkov telescope based on a camera using solid state photosensors (Geigermode Avalanche Photodiodes G-APD aka SiPM). Since October 2011, it has been taking data regularly. Apart from commissioning and calibration measurements, it has already started regular operation, where the main goal is to do long-term monitoring of bright TeV blazars. In June 2012, a flare of Mrk 501 was observed. Thanks to the robustness of the G-APDs, observations can be carried out during strong moon light without aging of the sensors. This improves the duty cycle of the instrument and provides better statistics for long-term light curves. The telescope, situated on the Canary Island of La Palma, is operated, already now, remotely from central Europe. For the future, robotic operation is planned. We report on our experiences during the commissioning, and we present first results from the first 1.5 years of observations.
