The Trigger System of the MAGIC Telescope

Author

Paoletti, R. ; Cecchi, R. ; Corti, D. ; Dazzi, F. ; Mariotti, M. ; Pegna, R. ; Turini, N.

Author_Institution

Ist. Nazionale di Fisica Nucl., Pisa

Volume

54

Issue

2

fYear

2007

fDate

4/1/2007 12:00:00 AM

Firstpage

404

Lastpage

409

Abstract

The MAGIC telescope aims at the detection of very low energy gamma rays (E>30 GeV) through the atmospheric emission of Cherenkov light. The high background rate originating from the night sky background, muons, hadronic showers and bright stars sets a serious challenge to this goal. Application of topological selection cuts at trigger level can have a big impact on background reduction allowing the telescope to operate at lower thresholds and reducing the minimum detectable energy. The trigger of the MAGIC telescope is a two-level system following a pipeline philosophy, similar to those adopted in high energy physics experiments. Operative since October 2002, the trigger system has been a key point in the commissioning of the MAGIC telescope that is now taking data. The trigger hardware is described in detail

Keywords

Cherenkov counters; astronomical telescopes; cosmic ray muons; cosmic ray showers; gamma-ray detection; nuclear electronics; trigger circuits; MAGIC telescope; Major Atmospheric Gamma Imaging Cherenkov; atmospheric Cherenkov light emission; bright stars; cosmic showers; ground-based telescope; hadronic showers; high background rate; high energy physics experiments; low energy gamma ray detection; lower thresholds; muons; night sky background; pipeline philosophy; topological selection cuts; trigger system; Astrophysics; Cameras; Gamma ray detection; Gamma ray detectors; Gamma rays; Hardware; Mesons; Physics; Pipelines; Telescopes; Astroparticle physics; astrophysics; imaging air cherenkov telescope; trigger;

fLanguage

English

Journal_Title

Nuclear Science, IEEE Transactions on

Publisher

ieee

ISSN

0018-9499

Type

jour

DOI

10.1109/TNS.2007.892649

Filename

4155102