Monte Carlo studies on the sensitivity of the HEGRA imaging atmospheric Cerenkov telescope system in observations of extended gamma-ray sources

In this paper, we present the results of Monte Carlo simulations of atmospheric showers induced by diffuse γ-rays as detected by the high-energy gamma-ray astronomy (HEGRA) system of five imaging atmospheric Cerenkov telescopes (IACTs). We have investigated the sensitivity of observations on extended γ-ray emission over the entire field of view of the instrument. We discuss a technique to search for extended γ-ray sources within the field of view of the instrument. We give estimates for HEGRA sensitivity of observations on extended TeV γ-ray sources.