LST

class tilepy.include.Observatories.LST

Bases: object

Coordinates and description for the Large-Sized Telescope (LST), CTAO.

The Large-Sized Telescope (LST) is the flagship instrument of the Cherenkov Telescope Array Observatory (CTAO), optimized for the detection of gamma rays at the lowest energies accessible from the ground (20-150 GeV). Each LST features a 23-meter segmented mirror (collecting area : 400 m \(^2\)) and a field of view of 4.3°, allowing high sensitivity to faint Cherenkov flashes [1]. Four LSTs are being installed at the center of the CTAO northern site, enabling rapid and sensitive follow-up of transient events. Thanks to their lightweight structure, LSTs can repoint in less than 20 seconds, which is crucial for observing phenomena such as gamma-ray bursts.

Each LST is equipped with a high-speed camera containing 1855 photomultiplier tubes (PMTs), able to record fast Cherenkov signals produced when gamma rays interact with the atmosphere. These data provide crucial insights into extreme cosmic sources.

The LST, together with the Medium-Sized and Small-Sized Telescopes, forms the CTAO, offering broad energy coverage from 20 GeV to 300 TeV [2].

More information: LST official page

The Large-Sized Telescope (LST) at the CTAO site (Credit: Otger Ballester, IFAE).

References

[1]

J. Aleksić, S. Ansoldi, L. A. Antonelli, et al. The major upgrade of the MAGIC telescopes, Part II: A performance study using observations of the Crab Nebula. Astroparticle Physics, 72:76–94, January 2016. arXiv:1409.5594, doi:10.1016/j.astropartphys.2015.02.005.

[2]

Werner Hofmann and Roberta Zanin. The Cherenkov Telescope Array. arXiv e-prints, pages arXiv:2305.12888, May 2023. arXiv:2305.12888, doi:10.48550/arXiv.2305.12888.