The ASTRI Cherenkov Camera: from the prototype to the industrial version for the Mini-Array
The observation of energetic astronomical sources emitting very high-energy gamma-rays in the TeV spectral range (as e.g. supernova remnants or blazars) is mainly based on detecting the Cherenkov light induced by relativistic particles in the showers produced by the photon interaction with the Earth atmosphere. The ASTRI Mini-Array is an INAF-led project aimed observing such celestial objects in the 1 - 100 TeV energy range. It consists of an array of nine innovative imaging atmospheric Cherenkov telescopes that are an evolution of the dual-mirror aplanatic ASTRI-Horn telescope operating at the INAF "M.C. Fracastoro" observing station (Serra La Nave, Mount Etna, Italy). The ASTRI Mini-Array is currently under construction at the Observatorio del Teide (Tenerife, Spain). In this paper, we present the compact (diameter 660mm, height 520mm, weight 73kg) ASTRI-Horn prototype Cherenkov Camera based on a modular multipixel Silicon Photon Multiplier (SiPM) detector, has been acquiring data since 2016 and allowing us to obtain both scientific data and essential lessons. In this contribution, we report the main features of the camera and its evolution toward the new Cherenkov camera, which will be installed on each ASTRI Mini-Array telescope to cover an unprecedented field of view of 10.5°.