What question did this study set out to answer?

This research aims to evaluate the performance of a hybrid gamma observatory combining Cherenkov telescopes and ground water detectors.

June 19, 2026Open Access

Prospects for the detection of gamma rays using Cherenkov telescopes enhanced by a ground array observatory

Key Points

This research aims to evaluate the performance of a hybrid gamma observatory combining Cherenkov telescopes and ground water detectors.
Simulated data and optimized analysis were conducted to assess performance.
Single-Mirror Small-Size imaging atmospheric Cherenkov Telescopes (SST-1M) were used in simulation.
The hybrid setup included high-altitude Water-Cherenkov Detectors (WCDs) to improve performance.
Improvement in flux sensitivity above 10 TeV by about 60% for monocular observations.
30% improvement in flux sensitivity for stereoscopic SST-1M observations.
Enhanced gamma/hadron separation due to data from the WCD array resulted in better detection accuracy.

Abstract

We study through detailed simulated data and their optimized analysis the expected performance of the Single-Mirror Small-Size imaging atmospheric Cherenkov Telescopes (SST-1M) potentially located inside a high-altitude array of Water-Cherenkov Detectors (WCDs) inspired by the current foreseen design of the Southern Wide-field Gamma-ray Observatory (SWGO). For such a hybrid setup, we show an improvement in the flux sensitivity above 10 TeV by about 60% for monocular and 30% for stereoscopic SST-1M observation, due to the improved gamma/hadron separation when additional parameters from the WCD array are used. We also discuss further benefits of the hybrid gamma observatory concept and its technical challenges.

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