Gamma-Ray Astronomy around 100 TeV with a large Muon Detector operated at Very High Altitude

TL;DR

This paper explores the potential of a large muon detector at high altitude combined with an EAS array to detect gamma-ray fluxes around 100 TeV, addressing challenges in background discrimination and sensitivity.

Contribution

It presents simulation-based estimates of energy ranges and sensitivities for gamma-ray detection using a large muon detector at very high altitude.

Findings

Potential to detect gamma-ray fluxes around 100 TeV

Enhanced background discrimination with muon-poor shower identification

Feasibility demonstrated through simulation estimates

Abstract

Measurements at 100 TeV and above are an important goal for the next generation of high energy gamma-ray astronomy experiments to solve the still open problem of the origin of galactic cosmic rays. The most natural experimental solution to detect very low radiation fluxes is provided by the Extensive Air Shower (EAS) arrays. They benefit from a close to 90% duty cycle and a very large field of view (about 2 sr), but the sensitivity is limited by their angular resolution and their poor cosmic ray background discrimination. Above 10 TeV the standard technique for rejecting the hadronic background consists in looking for "muon-poor" showers. In this paper we discuss the capability of a large muon detector (A=2500 m2) operated with an EAS array at very high altitude (>4000 m a.s.l.) to detect gamma-ray fluxes around 100 TeV. Simulation-based estimates of energy ranges and sensitivities are presented.