T. Räihä

Multi-pixel Geiger-mode avalanche photodiode and wavelength-shifting fibre-optics readout of plastic scintillator counters for the EMMA underground experiment

The results of a development of a scintillator counter with wavelength shifting (WLS) fibre and a multi-pixel Geiger-mode avalanche photodiode readout are presented. The photodiode has a metal-resistor-semiconductor layered structure and operates in the limited Geiger mode. The scintillator counter has been developed for the EMMA underground cosmic ray experiment.

EMMA – an underground cosmic-ray experiment

A new cosmic-ray experiment is under construction in the Pyhasalmi mine, Finland. It aims to study the (mass) composition of cosmic rays at and above the knee region. The array, called EMMA (Experiment with MultiMuon Array), will cover approximately 130 m 2 of detector area at a depth of 75 metres (~210 mwe). It is able to locate shower cores in an area of approximately 400 m 2 with an accuracy better than 6 metres. The array detects underground muons and the muon multiplicity, their lateral distribution and the arrival direction of the air shower can be determined. First scientific measurements can be started during the spring 2009 with a partial-size array. The full-size array is expected to be ready by autumn 2010. The full-size array consist of two type of detectors: drift chambers and plastic scintillation detectors. Besides the composition study, it is also expected that the array contributes on the study of high-multiplicity muon bundles that were observed at the cosmic-ray experiments at the LEP detectors.

Background and muon counting rates in underground muon measurements with a plastic scintillator counter based on a wavelength shifting fibre and a multi-pixel avalanche photodiode readout

In this short note we present results of background measurements carried out with polystyrene based cast plastic 12.0×12.0×3.0 cm3 size scintillator counter with a wavelength shifting fibre and a multi-pixel Geiger mode avalanche photodiode readout in the Baksan underground laboratory at a depth of 200 metres of water equivalent. The total counting rate of the scintillator counter measured at this depth and at a threshold corresponding to ∼0.37 of a minimum ionizing particle is approximately 1.3 Hz.

Lateral distribution function of charged particles in EAS near the axis

High-precision measurements of the lateral distribution function (LDF) of charged particles near the axis of extensive air showers (EASes) were performed with the CARPET air shower array of the Baksan Neutrino Observatory for several ranges of Ne, including the knee region. For the sake of comparison with the experiment, calculations for primary protons and iron nuclei were made using the CORSIKA code (the QGSJET01C model of interaction). The measured experimental LDF is compared with our calculations.

Geiger mode APD's for the underground cosmic ray experiment EMMA

Multi-pixel photodiodes operating in a limited Geiger mode will be used for photoreadout of scintillator counters in underground cosmic ray experiment EMMA. Main parameters of photodiodes and the performance of EMMA scintillator counters are presented.

EMMA: A new underground cosmic-ray experiment

A cosmic-ray experiment of new type is under construction in the Pyhasalmi mine in the underground laboratory of the University of Oulu, Finland. It aims to study the composition of cosmic rays at and above the knee region (energy above 1 PeV). The experiment, called EMMA, covers about 150 m2 of detector area, and the setup is capable of measuring the multiplicity and the lateral distribution of underground muons, and the arrival direction of the air shower. The detector is placed at the depth of about 85 metres (corresponding about 240 mwe) which gives a threshold energy of muons of about 45 GeV. The rock overburden filters out all other particles of the air shower except the high-energy muons. These high-energy muons originate at high altitudes close to the first interaction of the primary cosmic ray and they carry more information about the primary than low-energy muons. The full-size detector is supposed to run by the end of 2007.

EAS selection in the EMMA underground array

The first measurements of the Experiment with MultiMuon Array (EMMA) have been analyzed for the selection of the Extensive Air Showers (EAS). Test data were recorded with an underground muon tracking station and a satellite station separated laterally by 10 metres. Events with tracks distributed over all of the tracking detector area and even extending over to the satellite station are identified as EAS. The recorded multiplicity spectrum of the events is in general agreement with CORSIKA EAS simulation and demonstrates the arrays capability of EAS detection.