  We present simulations of a large array of imaging atmospheric Cherenkov
telescopes (IACTs), for which the size of the array footprint is much larger
than the size of the Cherenkov lightpool. To evaluate limitations of the
imaging atmospheric Cherenkov technique, the array is simulated under the
assumption of ideal optics, having infinite resolution of the photon arrival
direction, which makes our conclusions independent of any particular telescope
implementation. The primary characteristics of the array performance, gamma-ray
trigger efficiency, photon energy at the peak of the detection rate, and
angular resolution are calculated as a function of the parameters of the array:
telescope spacing, telescope aperture, and camera pixelation. We discuss
implication of the results for the design of the next generation ground-based
gamma-ray observatory.
