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Title: Muon counting using silicon photomultipliers in the AMIGA detector of the Pierre Auger observatory

Journal Article · · Journal of Instrumentation
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Here, AMIGA (Auger Muons and Infill for the Ground Array) is an upgrade of the Pierre Auger Observatory designed to extend its energy range of detection and to directly measure the muon content of the cosmic ray primary particle showers. The array will be formed by an infill of surface water-Cherenkov detectors associated with buried scintillation counters employed for muon counting. Each counter is composed of three scintillation modules, with a 10 m2 detection area per module. In this paper, a new generation of detectors, replacing the current multi-pixel photomultiplier tube (PMT) with silicon photo sensors (aka. SiPMs), is proposed. The selection of the new device and its front-end electronics is explained. A method to calibrate the counting system that ensures the performance of the detector is detailed. This method has the advantage of being able to be carried out in a remote place such as the one where the detectors are deployed. High efficiency results, i.e. 98% efficiency for the highest tested overvoltage, combined with a low probability of accidental counting (~2%), show a promising performance for this new system.

Research Organization:
Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory (FNAL), Batavia, IL (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE Office of Science (SC), High Energy Physics (HEP)
Contributing Organization:
Pierre Auger
Grant/Contract Number:
AC02-07CH11359
OSTI ID:
1350508
Report Number(s):
FERMILAB-PUB-16-656-AD-CD-TD; arXiv:1703.06193; 1516105; TRN: US1700651
Journal Information:
Journal of Instrumentation, Vol. 12, Issue 03; ISSN 1748-0221
Publisher:
Institute of Physics (IOP)Copyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Citation Metrics:
Cited by: 8 works
Citation information provided by
Web of Science

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Cited By (3)

Multi-Messenger Physics With the Pierre Auger Observatory text January 2019
Multi-Messenger Physics With the Pierre Auger Observatory journal April 2019
Data-driven estimation of the invisible energy of cosmic ray showers with the Pierre Auger Observatory text January 2019