The TAIGA observatory addresses ground-based gamma-ray astronomy at energies from a few TeV to several PeV, cosmic ray physics from 100 TeV to several EeV as well as for search for axion-like ...particles, Lorentz violations and another evidence of New Physics. In 2020 year a one square kilometer TAIGA setup should be put in operation.
The TAIGA gamma observatory is continuing its deployment at the Tunka valley, close to lake Baikal. The new, original detectors, able to work under severe conditions of Siberia, were developed to ...increase the TAIGA sensitivity for the study of gamma-quanta at energies about 1 PeV and above. The distinguishing feature of the detectors is the use of the wavelength shifting light guides for scintillation light collection on a photodetector. Several designs of the counters have been tested: equipped with PMT or SiPM photo-detectors, acrylic or polystyrene based scintillators with thickness from 1 to 5 cm and detecting area from 0.75 to 1.0 m
2
. The data on the amplitude of the signal from cosmic muons measured in different points within the counter are presented. The first 48 counters were produced and deployed in 2019 at the TAIGA experiment. They form 3 stations each with 8 surface detectors and 8 underground detectors buried at the depth of 1.7 m. After two winters, all counters are working.
Abstract
The Tunka-Grande array is part of a single experimental complex, which also includes the Tunka-133 and TAIGA-HiScORE (High Sensitivity COsmic Rays and gamma Explorer) wide-angle Cherenkov ...arrays, TAIGA-IACT array (Imaging Atmospheric Cherenkov Telescope) and TAGA-MUON scintillation array. This complex is located in the Tunka Valley (Buryatia Republic, Russia), 50 km from Lake Baikal. It is designed to study the energy spectrum and the mass composition of charged cosmic rays in the energy range 100 TeV - 1000 PeV, to search for diffuse gamma rays above 100 TeV and to study local sources of gamma rays with energies above 30 TeV.
This report outlines 3 key points. The first is the description of the Tunka-Grande scintillation array. The second one presents the computer simulation strategy of the Tunka Grande array based on the Geant4 software. The third one is devoted to the prospects for future research in the field of cosmic ray physics and gamma-ray astronomy using simulation results.
Abstract
The TAIGA astroparticle observatory is progressing with the
deployment of new detector stations. The Tunka-Grande —
scintillation counter array of the observatory expands with the new
...TAIGA-Muon stations. Several simulation studies were conducted for
optimisation of the new station positioning and
performance. Extensive air showers induced by gamma quanta or a
proton in the range from 100 TeV to 1 PeV at a zenith angle of 0°
were used for these studies. Based on the developed simulation, the
capabilities of identification of high energy extensive air showers
were studied. The soil thickness, the detector and station
positions, the lowest measurable energy range of the cosmic rays,
and different methods of air shower identification were
investigated.
Abstract
The TAIGA experiment in Tunka valley is expanding the present scintillation detector array with new TAIGA-Muon detector stations. A simulation model was developed for optimization of the ...layout of the new stations and study of the identification performance of the array. The extensive air showers (EASs) were simulated with the CORSIKA simulation tool, and the detector response was simulated with the GEANT4 package. EASs induced by gamma quanta or protons in the energy range from 1 PeV to 10 PeV and the zenith angle range from 0° to 45°, are used for these studies. For the identification of high energy extensive air showers, a method based on a neural network was suggested. With this method, the proton identification efficiency is more than 90%, while the gamma identification efficiency not less than 50%.
Over the past few years, the TAIGA (Tunka Advanced Instrument for cosmic ray physics and Gamma-ray Astronomy) observatory has been being deployed in the Tunka Valley, Republic of Buryatia. It is ...designed for studying gamma rays of energy above 30 TeV and performing searches for sources of galactic cosmic rays with energies in the vicinity of 1 PeV, which is an energy region around the classic knee in the cosmic-ray energy spectrum. The first phase of the observatory will be situated at a distance of about 50 km from Lake Baikal at the site of the Tunka-133 array. The TAIGA gamma observatory will include a network of 500 wide-angle (0.6 sr) Cherenkov detectors (TAIGA-HiSCORE array) and up to 16 atmospheric Cherenkov telescopes (ACT) designed for analyzing the EAS images (imaging atmospheric Cherenkov telescopes, or IACT) and positioned within an area of 5 km
2
. The observatory will also include muon detectors of total area 2000 m
2
distributed over an area of 1 km
2
. Within the next three years, it is planned to enhance the area of the TAIGA-HiSCORE array by a factor of four—from 0.25 km
2
to 1 km
2
; to supplement the existing IACT with two new ones; and to deploy new muon detectors with a total coverage of 200 m
2
. The structure of the new observatory is described along with the data analysis techniques used. The most interesting physical results are presented, and the research program for the future is discussed.
The differential energy spectrum of cosmic rays in the energy range of 3 × 10
14
–3 × 10
18
eV and the corrected dependence of the mean depth of the maximum 〈
X
max
〉 of an extensive air shower (EAS) ...inside the wide energy range of 10
15
–3 × 10
17
eV have been obtained from the data of the Tunka-133 array for 7 years of operation (2009–2017) and the TAIGA-HiSCORE array for the 2019–2020 season of operation. At the extremely high energy, our results agree with the results of the Pierre Auger Observatory based on direct measurements of the maximum depth by the observation of fluorescent light from EAS. The recalculation from the 〈
X
max
〉 to the parameter
, which characterizes the average composition of the primary cosmic rays, is presented.
The Tunka-Grande and TAIGA-Muon arrays are the part of a single experimental complex, which also includes the Tunka-133 and TAIGA-HiSCORE (High Sensitivity COsmic Rays and gamma Explorer) wide-angle ...Cherenkov arrays, TAIGA-IACT array (Imaging Atmospheric Cherenkov Telescope) and Tunka-Rex radio antennas array (Tunka Radio Extension). This complex is located in the Tunka Valley (Buryatia Republic, Russia), 50 km from Lake Baikal. It is aimed at investigating the energy spectrum and mass composition of charged cosmic rays in the energy range 100 TeV - 1000 PeV, searching for diffuse gamma rays above 100 TeV and studying local sources of gamma rays with energies above 30 TeV. This report outlines 3 key points. The first is a description of the Tunka-Grande and TAIGA-Muon scintillation arrays. The second part presents preliminary results of the search for diffuse gamma rays with energies above 50 PeV according to the Tunka-Grande data. The third part is devoted to the prospects of the search for diffuse gamma rays with energies above 100 TeV using the TAIGA-Muon array.
TAIGA array addresses gamma-ray astronomy at energies from a few TeV to several PeV as well as cosmic ray physics from 100 TeV to several EeV. A 1 km2 TAIGA setup will consist of 120 wide-angle ...detectors of the Cherenkov timing array TAIGA-HiSCORE and three imaging air Cherenkov telescopes with the field of view diameter of 9.6°. In this paper, first experimental results of the first operation stage are presented: signal detection from two gamma-ray sources, the Crab Nebula and Markarian 421, by the first IACT in stand-alone mode. The detected signal is shown to be in agreement with the Monte Carlo expectation. In future, gamma-ray signal will be detected by a larger number of TAIGA telescopes as well as the TAIGA-HiSCORE array, that is, in combined operation mode.
The astrophysical complex TAIGA (Tunka Advanced Instrument for cosmic-ray physics and Gamma-ray Astronomy), whose first phase is being completed in the Tunka valley 50 km from Lake Baikal, is ...described. Its research program, first results, and development prospects are discussed.
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