CELESTE: an atmospheric Cherenkov telescope for high energy gamma astrophysics

Abstract CELESTE is an atmospheric Cherenkov telescope based on the sampling method which makes use of the de-commissioned THEMIS solar electrical plant in the French Pyrenees. A large (2000 m 2 ) mirror surface area from 40 independent heliostats followed by a secondary optic, a trigger system using analog summing techniques and signal digitization with 1 GHz flash ADCs make possible the detection of cosmic γ-rays down to 30 GeV . This paper provides a detailed technical description of the CELESTE installation.