Single-Mirror Small-Size Telescope structure for the Cherenkov Telescope Array

Abstract: A single-mirror small-size (1M-SST) Davies-Cotton telescope has been proposed for the southern observatory of the Cherenkov Telescope Array (CTA) by a consortium of scientific institutions from Poland, Switzerland, and Germany. The telescope has a 4 m diameter reflector and will be equipped with a fully digital camera based on Geiger avalanche photodiodes (APDs). Such a design is particularly interesting for CTA because it represents a very simple, reliable, and cheap solution for a SST. Here we present the design and the characteristics of the mechanical structure of the 1M-SST telescope and its drive system. We also discuss the results of a finite element method analysis in order to demonstrate the conformance of the design with the CTA specifications and scientific objectives. In addition, we report on the current status of the construction of a prototype telescope structure at the Institute of Nuclear Physics PAS in Krakow.