STACEX: a RPC-based detector for a multi-messenger Southern observatory in the GeV-PeV range

Discussion timeslot (ZOOM-Meeting): 20. July 2021 - 12:00
ZOOM-Meeting URL: https://desy.zoom.us/j/91896950007
ZOOM-Meeting ID: 91896950007
ZOOM-Meeting Passcode: ICRC2021
Corresponding Session: https://icrc2021-venue.desy.de/channel/56-New-Instruments-Performance-amp-Future-Projects-for-Ground-Based-Gamma-Ray-Astronomy-GAI/79
Live-Stream URL: https://icrc2021-venue.desy.de/livestream/Discussion-06/7

Abstract:
'Recent findings by the LHAASO experiment are opening a new window, that of the PeV sky, to the observation of the electromagnetic spectrum.rnSeveral astronomical objects emitting gamma-rays at energies well above 100 TeV have been observed with the LHAASO-KM2 array of scintillators and muon detectors, clearly demonstrating the feasibility of gamma-ray astronomy up to PeV energies.rnAn all-sky gamma-ray detector in the Southern Hemisphere, operating in the GeV-PeV range, could complement LHAASO observations, monitor the inner Galaxy and the Galactic Center looking for PeVatrons.rnAs shown by LHAASO, a water-Cherenkov based detector is not well suited to measure the energy spectrum up to the PeV range, nor to reach the advisable 100 GeV threshold.rnThe ARGO-YBJ experiment, operated for many years at 4300 m a.s.l. with an energy threshold of about 300 GeV, demonstrated, on the contrary, the capability of a carpet of Resistive Plate Chambers (RPCs) to fully reconstruct showers starting from the GeV range up to about 10 PeV.rnIn this contribution we propose a hybrid detector made of a layer of RPCs on top of a water Cherenkov pond devoted to the detection of muons for the selection of gamma-induced showers.rnWe present the layout and discuss the expected performance.'

Authors: Gonzalo Rodriguez Fernandez | Marco Tavani | Ciro Bigongiari | Valentina Fioretti | Giuseppe Di Sciascio | Antonio Addis | Giovanni Piano | Rinaldo Santonico
Collaboration: STACEX

Indico-ID: 453
Proceeding URL: https://pos.sissa.it/395/715