Testing the multi-mirror array shower detection technique: status of the THEMISTOCLE experiment

This experiment is testing the performance of a multi-mirror Cerenkov array technique for the detection of VHE/UHE gamma-ray point sources. It emphasizes geometrical criteria (e.g. the angular resolution) as an unbiased way of rejecting the isotropic hadronic background. The tletector components and the calibration techniques are described, and their main characteristics are given as measured in the first months of operation of the experimental setup. The status of the observation program is presented at this stage of the ongoin6 analysis .