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

THE PIERRE AUGER COLLABORATION; GARCIA, B (500 AUTHORS IN ALPHABETICAL ORDER)

JOURNAL OF INSTRUMENTATION

IOP PUBLISHING LTD

Lugar: Londres; Año: 2016 vol. 11

1748-0221

AMIGA (Auger Muons and Infill for the Ground Array) is an upgrade of the PierreAuger Observatory to extend its range of detection and to directly measure the muon content ofthe particle showers. It consists of an infill of surface water-Cherenkov detectors accompanied byburied scintillator detectors used for muon counting. The main objectives of the AMIGA engineeringarray, referred to as the Unitary Cell, are to identify and resolve all engineering issues as wellas to understand the muon-number counting uncertainties related to the design of the detector. Themechanical design, fabrication and deployment processes of the muon counters of the Unitary Cellare described in this document. These muon counters modules comprise sealed PVC casings containingplastic scintillation bars, wavelength-shifter optical fibers, 64 pixel photomultiplier tubes,and acquisition electronics. The modules are buried approximately 2.25m below ground level inorder 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 ofthe modules? response and integrity. The completed Unitary Cell has measured a number of airshowers of which a first analysis of a sample event is included here.