Prototype muon detectors for the AMIGA component of the Pierre Auger Observatory

Authors

A. Aab, Universität Siegen
P. Abreu, Instituto Superior Técnico
M. Aglietta, Istituto Nazionale Di Astrofisica, Rome
E. J. Ahn, Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory
I. Al Samarai, Institut de Physique Nucléaire d’Orsay
I. F.M. Albuquerque, Universidade de São Paulo
I. Allekotte, Instituto Balseiro
P. Allison, The Ohio State University
A. Almela, Comision Nacional de Energia Atomica Argentina
J. Alvarez Castillo, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México
J. Alvarez-Muñiz, Universidad de Santiago de Compostela
R. Alves Batista, Universität Hamburg
M. Ambrosio, Università degli Studi di Napoli Federico II
A. Aminaei, Radboud Universiteit
G. A. Anastasi, Università degli Studi di Catania
L. Anchordoqui, Lehman College
B. Andrada, Comision Nacional de Energia Atomica Argentina
S. Andringa, Instituto Superior Técnico
C. Aramo, Università degli Studi di Napoli Federico II
F. Arqueros, Universidad Complutense de Madrid
N. Arsene, Universitatea din Bucuresti
H. Asorey, Instituto Balseiro
P. Assis, Instituto Superior Técnico
J. Aublin, Laboratoire de Physique Nucléaire et de Hautes Energies
G. Avila, Comision Nacional de Energia Atomica Argentina
N. Awal, New York University
A. M. Badescu, University Politehnica of Bucharest
C. Baus, Karlsruher Institut für Technologie
J. J. Beatty, The Ohio State University
K. H. Becker, Bergische Universität Wuppertal
J. A. Bellido, The University of Adelaide
C. Berat, Universite Grenoble Alpes
M. E. Bertaina, Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare, Sezione di Torino

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

2-17-2016

Abstract

AMIGA (Auger Muons and Infill for the Ground Array) is an upgrade of the Pierre Auger Observatory to extend its range of detection and to directly measure the muon content of the particle showers. It consists of an infill of surface water-Cherenkov detectors accompanied by buried scintillator detectors used for muon counting. The main objectives of the AMIGA engineering array, referred to as the Unitary Cell, are to identify and resolve all engineering issues as well as to understand the muon-number counting uncertainties related to the design of the detector. The mechanical design, fabrication and deployment processes of the muon counters of the Unitary Cell are described in this document. These muon counters modules comprise sealed PVC casings containing plastic scintillation bars, wavelength-shifter optical fibers, 64 pixel photomultiplier tubes, and acquisition electronics. The modules are buried approximately 2.25 m below ground level in order to minimize contamination from electromagnetic shower particles. The mechanical setup, which allows access to the electronics for maintenance, is also described in addition to tests of the modules' response and integrity. The completed Unitary Cell has measured a number of air showers of which a first analysis of a sample event is included here.

Publication Source (Journal or Book title)

Journal of Instrumentation

Recommended Citation

Aab, A., Abreu, P., Aglietta, M., Ahn, E., Al Samarai, I., Albuquerque, I., Allekotte, I., Allison, P., Almela, A., Alvarez Castillo, J., Alvarez-Muñiz, J., Alves Batista, R., Ambrosio, M., Aminaei, A., Anastasi, G., Anchordoqui, L., Andrada, B., Andringa, S., Aramo, C., Arqueros, F., Arsene, N., Asorey, H., Assis, P., Aublin, J., Avila, G., Awal, N., Badescu, A., Baus, C., Beatty, J., Becker, K., Bellido, J., Berat, C., & Bertaina, M. (2016). Prototype muon detectors for the AMIGA component of the Pierre Auger Observatory. Journal of Instrumentation, 11 (2) https://doi.org/10.1088/1748-0221/11/02/P02012