Improving VERITAS Sensitivity by Fitting 2D Gaussian Image Parameters

Understand

Our goal is to improve the acceptance and angular resolution of VERITAS by implementing a camera image-fitting algorithm.

• Elliptical image parameters are extracted from 2D Gaussian distribution fits using a (chi)^2 minimization instead of the standard technique based on the principle moments of an island of pixels above threshold.
• We optimize the analysis cuts and then characterize the improvements using simulations.
• We find an improvement of 20% less observing time to reach 5-sigma for weak point sources.