A high performance likelihood reconstruction of γ-rays for imaging atmospheric Cherenkov telescopes

The reconstruction technique provides a more precise direction and energy reconstruction of the photon induced shower compared to other techniques in use, together with a better gamma efficiency, especially at low energies, as well as an improved background rejection. For data taken with the H.E.S.S. experiment, the reconstruction technique yielded a factor of ∼2 better sensitivity compared to the H.E.S.S. standard reconstruction techniques based on second moments of the camera images (Hillas parameter technique).