Spot size of 17m-diameter MACE reflector in presence of surface inaccuracies

Abstract

The MACE (for Major Atmospheric Cerenkov Experiment), an imaging cerenkov telescope for gamma-ray astronomy investigations in the sub-TeV energy bracket, plans to use a 17 m-diameter high quality reflecter mounted with a high definition imaging camera in its focal plane. The spot size of the MACE has been estimated for, both, on-and off-axis cases, considering an ideal mirror surface. The effect on this spot-size due to surface smoothness errors has been investigated.