arXiv subjects

A. Etchegoyen

Publications and source records attributed to A. Etchegoyen.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

arXiv2018

Origin of the light cosmic ray component below the ankle

The origin and nature of the ultrahigh energy cosmic rays remains a mystery. However, considerable progress has been achieved in past years due to observations performed by the Pierre Auger Observatory and Telescope Array. Above $10^{18}$ eV the observed energy spectrum presents two features: a hardening of the slope at $\sim 10^{18.6}$ eV, which is known as the ankle, and a suppression at $\sim 10^{19.6}$ eV. The composition inferred from the experimental data, interpreted by using the current high energy hadronic interaction models, seems to be light below the ankle, showing a trend to heavier nuclei for increasing values of the primary energy. Also, the anisotropy information is consistent with an extragalactic origin of this light component that would dominate the spectrum below the ankle. Therefore, the models that explain the ankle as the transition from the galactic and extragalactic components are disfavored by present data. Recently, it has been proposed that this light component originates from the photodisintegration of more energetic and heavier nuclei in the source environment. The formation of the ankle can also be explained by this mechanism. In this work we study in detail this general scenario but in the context of the central region of active galaxies. In this case, the cosmic rays are accelerated near the supermassive black hole present in the central region of these types of galaxies, and the photodisintegration of heavy nuclei takes place in the radiation field that surrounds the supermassive black hole.

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arXiv2018

Thermal architecture for the QUBIC cryogenic receiver

QUBIC, the QU Bolometric Interferometer for Cosmology, is a novel forthcoming instrument to measure the B-mode polarization anisotropy of the Cosmic Microwave Background. The detection of the B-mode signal will be extremely challenging; QUBIC has been designed to address this with a novel approach, namely bolometric interferometry. The receiver cryostat is exceptionally large and cools complex optical and detector stages to 40 K, 4 K, 1 K and 350 mK using two pulse tube coolers, a novel 4He sorption cooler and a double-stage 3He/4He sorption cooler. We discuss the thermal and mechanical design of the cryostat, modelling and thermal analysis, and laboratory cryogenic testing.

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arXiv2018

QUBIC - The Q&U Bolometric Interferometer for Cosmology - A novel way to look at the polarized Cosmic Microwave Background

In this paper we describe QUBIC, an experiment that takes up the challenge posed by the detection of primordial gravitational waves with a novel approach, that combines the sensitivity of state-of-the art bolometric detectors with the systematic effects control typical of interferometers. The so-called "self-calibration" is a technique deeply rooted in the interferometric nature of the instrument and allows us to clean the measured data from instrumental effects. The first module of QUBIC is a dual band instrument (150 GHz and 220 GHz) that will be deployed in Argentina during the Fall 2018.

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arXiv2017

QUBIC Technical Design Report

QUBIC is an instrument aiming at measuring the B mode polarisation anisotropies at medium scales angular scales (30-200 multipoles). The search for the primordial CMB B-mode polarization signal is challenging, because of many difficulties: smallness of the expected signal, instrumental systematics that could possibly induce polarization leakage from the large E signal into B, brighter than anticipated polarized foregrounds (dust) reducing to zero the initial hope of finding sky regions clean enough to have a direct primordial B-modes observation. The QUBIC instrument is designed to address all aspects of this challenge with a novel kind of instrument, a Bolometric Interferometer, combining the background-limited sensitivity of Transition-Edge-Sensors and the control of systematics allowed by the observation of interference fringe patterns, while operating at two frequencies to disentangle polarized foregrounds from primordial B mode polarization. Its characteristics are described in details in this Technological Design Report.

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arXiv2015

A composition dependent energy scale and the determination of the cosmic ray primary mass in the ankle region

At present there are still several open questions about the origin of the ultra high energy cosmic rays. However, great progress in this area has been made in recent years due to the data collected by the present generation of ground based detectors like the Pierre Auger Observatory and Telescope Array. In particular, it is believed that the study of the composition of the cosmic rays as a function of energy can play a fundamental role for the understanding of the origin of the cosmic rays. The observatories belonging to this generation are composed of arrays of surface detectors and fluorescence telescopes. The duty cycle of the fluorescence telescopes is ~10 % in contrast with the ~100 % of the surface detectors. Therefore, the energy calibration of the events observed by the surface detectors is performed by using a calibration curve obtained from a set of high quality events observed in coincidence by both types of detectors. The advantage of this method is that the reconstructed energy of the events observed by the surface detectors becomes almost independent of simulations of the showers because just a small part of the reconstructed energy, obtained from the fluorescence telescopes, comes from simulations. However, the calibration curve obtained in this way depends on the composition of the cosmic rays, which can introduce biases in composition analyses when parameters with a strong dependence on primary energy are considered. In this work we develop an analytical method to study these effects. We consider AMIGA, the low energy extension of the Pierre Auger Observatory corresponding to the surface detectors, to illustrate the use of the method.

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arXiv2015

Study of the chemical composition of high energy cosmic rays using the muon LDF of EAS between $10^{17.25}$ eV and $10^{17.75}$ eV

We explore the feasibility of estimating primary cosmic ray composition at high energies from the study of two parameters of Extensive Air Showers (EAS) at ground and underground level with Monte Carlo simulations using the new EPOS and QGSJETII hadronic models tuned with LHC data. Namely, the slope and density at a given distance of the muon lateral distribution function are analysed in this work. The power to discriminate primary masses is quantified in terms of merit factor for each parameter. The analysis considers three different primary particles (proton, iron and gamma), four different zenith angles (0$^{\circ}$, 15$^{\circ}$, 30$^{\circ}$ and 45$^{\circ}$) and primary energies of $10^{17.25}$ eV, $10^{17.50}$ eV and $10^{17.75}$ eV.

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arXiv2014

AtmoHEAD 2013 workshop / Atmospheric Monitoring for High-Energy Astroparticle Detectors

A 3-day international workshop on atmospheric monitoring and calibration for high-energy astroparticle detectors, with a view towards next-generation facilities. The atmosphere is an integral component of many high-energy astroparticle detectors. Imaging atmospheric Cherenkov telescopes and cosmic-ray extensive air shower detectors are the two instruments driving the rapidly evolving fields of very-high- and ultra-high-energy astrophysics. In these instruments, the atmosphere is used as a giant calorimeter where cosmic rays and gamma rays deposit their energy and initiate EASs; it is also the medium through which the resulting Cherenkov light propagates. Uncertainties in real-time atmospheric conditions and in the fixed atmospheric models typically dominate all other systematic errors. With the improved sensitivity of upgraded IACTs such as H.E.S.S.-II and MAGIC-II and future facilities like the Cherenkov Telescope Array (CTA) and JEM-EUSO, statistical uncertainties are expected to be significantly reduced, leaving the atmosphere as the limiting factor in the determination of astroparticle spectra. Varying weather conditions necessitate the development of suitable atmospheric monitoring to be integrated in the overall instrument calibration, including Monte Carlo simulations. With expertise distributed across multiple collaborations and scientific domains, an interdisciplinary workshop is being convened to advance progress on this critical and timely topic.

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arXiv2014

Status and motivation of Raman LIDARs development for the CTA Observatory

The Cherenkov Telescope Array (CTA) is the next generation of Imaging Atmospheric Cherenkov Telescopes. It would reach unprecedented sensitivity and energy resolution in very-high-energy gamma-ray astronomy. In order to reach these goals, the systematic uncertainties derived from the varying atmospheric conditions shall be reduced to the minimum. Different instruments may help to account for these uncertainties. Several groups in the CTA consortium are currently building Raman LIDARs to be installed at the CTA sites. Raman LIDARs are devices composed of a powerful laser that shoots into the atmosphere, a collector that gathers the backscattered light from molecules and aerosols, a photosensor, an optical module that spectrally select wavelengths of interest, and a read-out system. Raman LIDARs can reduce the systematic uncertainties in the reconstruction of the gamma-ray energies down to 5 % level. All Raman LIDARs subject of this work, have design features that make them different than typical Raman LIDARs used in atmospheric science, and are characterized by large collecting mirrors ($\sim2~$m$^2$). They have multiple elastic and Raman read-out channels (at least 4) and custom-made optics design. In this paper, the motivation for Raman LIDARs, the design and the status of advance of these technologies are described.

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arXiv2014

Digital Electronics for the Pierre Auger Observatory AMIGA Muon Counters

The "Auger Muons and Infill for the Ground Array" (AMIGA) project provides direct muon counting capacity to the Pierre Auger Observatory and extends its energy detection range down to 0.3 EeV. It currently consists of 61 detector pairs (a Cherenkov surface detector and a buried muon counter) distributed over a 23.5 km2 area on a 750 m triangular grid. Each counter relies on segmented scintillator modules storing a logical train of '0's and '1's on each scintillator segment at a given time slot. Muon counter data is sampled and stored at 320 MHz allowing both the detection of single photoelectrons and the implementation of an offline trigger designed to mitigate multi-pixel PMT crosstalk and dark rate undesired effects. Acquisition is carried out by the digital electronics built around a low power Cyclone III FPGA. This paper presents the digital electronics design, internal and external synchronization schemes, hardware tests, and first results from the Observatory.

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arXiv2013

The lateral shower age parameter as an estimator of chemical composition

We explore the feasibility of estimating primary cosmic ray composition at ultra high energies from the study of lateral age parameter of Extensive Air Showers (EAS) at ground level. Using different types of lateral distribution functions, we fit the particle density of simulated EAS to find the lateral age parameter. We discuss the chemical composition calculating the merit factor for each parameter distribution. The analysis considers three different primary particles (proton, iron and gamma), four different zenith angles (0°, 15°, 30° and 45°) and three primary energies (10^{17.25} eV, 10^{17.50} eV and 10^{17.75} eV).

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arXiv2010

Science and Detectors of the Pierre Auger Observatory

The high energy spectrum of cosmic rays presents three distinct traits, the second knee, the ankle, and the GZK cutoff and as such, a thorough understanding of cosmic rays encompasses the study of these three features. It is in the second knee - ankle region where cosmic ray sources change from a galactic origin to an extragalactic one. At the higher cutoff energies, the arrival directions show an anisotropy related to the near extragalactic sky. The Pierre Auger Observatory is currently designed to help to unravel these features by performing both spectrum and composition measurements with unprecedented accuracy. The primary particle type in the second knee - ankle region will be studied both with fluorescence telescopes and muon counters giving the air shower longitudinal profiles and muon contents, respectively.

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arXiv2010

The Pierre Auger Project and Enhancements

The current status of the scientific results of the Auger Observatory will be discussed which include spectrum, anisotropy in arrival directions, chemical composition analyses, and limits on neutrino and photon fluxes. A review of the Observatory detection systems will be presented. Auger has started the construction of its second phase which encompasses antennae for radio detection of cosmic rays, high-elevation telescopes, and surface plus muon detectors. Details will be presented on the latter, AMIGA (Auger Muons and Infill for the Ground Array), an Auger project consisting of 85 detector pairs each one composed of a surface water-Cherenkov detector and a buried muon counter. The detector pairs are arranged in an array with spacings of 433 and 750 m in order to perform a detailed study of the 10^17 eV to 10^19 eV spectrum region. Preliminary results on the performance of the 750 m array of surface detectors and the first muon counter prototype will be presented.

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arXiv2009

First buried muon counter prototype for the Auger Observatory

AMIGA (Auger Muons and Infill for the Ground Array) constitutes an enhancement for the Pierre Auger Observatory. It consists of a denser array of surface detectors and muon counters whose objective is both to extend the detection range down to 10^17 eV and to help towards mass composition determination. The latter is to be achieved with muon counters since the shower muon content is one of the best parameter for particle type identification. In this work, we present the study of a muon counter prototype. The prototype was buried 3 m deep in an effort to avoid signal contamination from the shower electromagnetic component. We study the performance of the detector before and after burying it with its associated electronic components. The detector validation is performed from signal analysis of charged particles traversing the counter.

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arXiv2009

On the possibility of primary identification of individual cosmic ray showers

The transition between the Galactic and extragalactic cosmic ray components could take place either in the region of the spectrum known as the second knee or in the ankle. There are several models of the transition but it is not possible to confirm or even rule out any of them from the flux measurement alone. Therefore, the measurement of the composition as a function of primary energy will play a fundamental role for the understanding of this phenomenon. In this work we study the possibility of primary identification in an event by event basis in the ankle region, around $E = 10^{18}$ eV. We consider as case study the enhancements of the Pierre Auger Southern Observatory, which are under construction in Malague, Province of Mendoza, Argentina. We use a non-parametric technique to estimate the density functions, from Monte Carlo data, corresponding to different combination of mass sensitive parameters and type of primaries. These estimates are used to obtain the classification probability of protons and iron nuclei for the different combination of parameters considered. We find that, after considering all relevant fluctuations, the maximum classification probability obtained combining surface and fluorescence detectors parameters is of order of 90%.

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arXiv2009

A New Numerical Technique to Determine Primary Cosmic Ray Composition in the Ankle Region

In this paper we introduce a new multiparametric technique that attempts to tackle simultaneously the problems of composition determination and hadronic interaction uncertainty. Employing simulations of a real world detector under its planned operational conditions, and disregarding systematics, we can asses that the present technique should be able to determine the composition of a binary mixture of p and Fe with a statistical confidence of few percent, in a way that is independent of the assumed hadronic interaction model. Moreover, the combination of real data with the tools developed and presented here should give an indication of the reliability of the various hadronic interaction models in current use in the area. We center our study in the region of the ankle, where composition carries critical astrophysical information, and use two main parameters: the number of muons at 600 m from the shower axis and the depth of the shower maximum obtained from the hybrid operation of the planned muon counters and high elevation fluorescence telescopes of the AMIGA and HEAT Auger enhancements.

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arXiv2008

Underground Muon Counters as a Tool for Composition Analyses

The transition energy from galactic to extragalactic cosmic ray sources is still uncertain, but it should be associated either with the region of the spectrum known as the second knee or with the ankle. The baseline design of the Pierre Auger Observatory was optimized for the highest energies. The surface array is fully efficient above $3 \times 10^{18}$ eV and, even if the hybrid mode can extend this range below $10^{18}$ eV, the second knee and a considerable portion of the wide ankle structure are left outside its operating range. Therefore, in order to encompass these spectral features and gain further insight into the cosmic ray composition variation along the transition region, enhancements to the surface and fluorescence components of the baseline design are being implemented that will lower the full efficiency regime of the Observatory down to $\sim 10^{17}$ eV. The surface enhancements consist of a graded infilled area of standard Auger water Cherenkov detectors deployed in two triangular grids of 433 m and 750 m of spacing. Each surface station inside this area will have an associated muon counter detector. The fluorescence enhancement, on the other hand, consists of three additional fluorescence telescopes with higher elevation angle ($30^\circ-58^\circ$) than the ones in operation at present. The aim of this paper is threefold. We study the effect of the segmentation of the muon counters and find an analytical expression to correct for the under counting due to muon pile-up. We also present a detailed method to reconstruct the muon lateral distribution function for the 750 m spacing array. Finally, we study the mass discrimination potential of a new parameter, the number of muons at 600 m from the shower axis, obtained by fitting the muon data with the above mentioned reconstruction method.

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arXiv2008

Sites for Gamma-ray Astronomy in Argentina

We have searched for possible sites in Argentina for the installation of large air Cherenkov telescope arrays and water Cherenkov systems. At present seven candidates are identified at altitudes from 2500 to 4500 m. The highest sites are located at the Northwest of the country, in La Puna. Sites at 2500 and 3100 m are located in the West at El Leoncito Observatory, with excellent infrastructure. A description of these candidate sites is presented with emphasis on infrastructure and climatology.

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arXiv2007

AMIGA, Auger Muons and Infill for the Ground Array

The Pierre Auger Observatory is planned to be upgraded so that the energy spectrum of cosmic rays can be studied down to 0.1 EeV and the muon component of showers can be determined. The former will lead to a spectrum measured by one technique from 0.1 EeV to beyond 100 EeV while the latter will aid identification of the primary particles. These enhancements consist of three high elevation telescopes (HEAT) and an infilled area having both surface detectors and underground muon counters (AMIGA). The surface array of the Auger Observatory will be enhanced over a 23.5 km2 area by 85 detector pairs laid out as a graded array of water-Cherenkov detectors and 30 m2 buried muon scintillator counters. The spacings in the array will be 433 and 750 m. The muon detectors will comprise highly segmented scintillators with optical fibres ending on multi-anode phototubes. The AMIGA complex will be centred 6.0 km away from the fluorescence detector installation at Coihueco and will be overlooked by the HEAT telescopes. We describe the design features of the AMIGA enhancement.

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