The NectarCAM : Getting ready for first light

by Dr Medha Chakraborty

Thursday 13 Aug 2026, 14:30 → 16:30 Asia/Kolkata

D406 (TIFR, Mumbai)

The NectarCAM is a camera designed to detect Cherenkov light from gamma rays in the energy range from roughly 80 GeV to 50 TeV and will equip medium-sized telescopes (MSTs) of the Cherenkov Telescope Array Observatory (CTAO). The camera consists of 1855 pixels, each comprising a photomultiplier tube with an associated light guide. The first camera has been extensively tested and is scheduled for shipment in 2027, while testing and integration work are ongoing for subsequent cameras. During the validation process, the NectarCAM units undergo a wide range of performance tests, including studies of their thermal behavior, thanks to the thermally controlled darkroom at CEA Paris-Saclay, which can reach temperatures as low as −15◦ C. Details of the integration status, ongoing upgrades, and the test results will be discussed in the talk.