  It is generally assumed that fluorescence radiation does not play a
significant role in the performance of Cherenkov telescopes. However, this
assumption is required to be verified using detailed Monte Carlo simulations.
In order to do this, we have implemented the production and tracking of
fluorescence radiation inside the CORSIKA code, and simulated gamma-ray induced
showers in the very high energy range. The most accurate fluorescence-yield
data available so far was used for this purpose.
  The distribution of both light components on the ground has been studied as a
function of various parameters affecting the detection and reconstruction of
gamma-ray showers such as the angular aperture. From these distributions, we
determined the conditions under which fluorescence radiation becomes
significant. These results will also be useful to estimate the corresponding
systematic errors in Cherenkov telescope observations. The full simulation
results have been cross-checked, on a small sample of events, against numerical
calculations based on a one-dimension shower profile and found to be compatible
with each other. Both tools can be used for further investigations, like
studying the possibility to modify Cherenkov telescopes for the measurement of
fluorescence induced by extensive air showers.
