Left panel: simulated γ-ray spectrum of Mrk 501 for CTA based on the SSC+π⁰ model shown in Fig. 4 and a 30-min exposure. For illustrative purposes, the decomposition of the best-fit dual-component (ECPL+LP) model is also shown (colored histograms). The middle and bottom panels show the residuals of the fit, defined as (model-data)/error, for the ECPL and ECLP+LP models, respectively. Right panel: unfolded binned γ-ray spectrum (blue markers) and best-fit dual-component model (solid orange line), with the residuals shown in the bottom panel. The ECPL and LP components of the best-fit spectrum are also plotted for clarity. For comparison, the observed MAGIC spectrum (obtained with a ∼1.5 h exposure) is overplotted (gray squares).