Future plan for observation of cosmic gamma rays in the 100 TeV energy region with the Tibet air shower array : physics goal and overview

TL;DR

This paper discusses plans to enhance the Tibet air shower array with a muon detector array to improve detection sensitivity for cosmic gamma rays in the 100 TeV energy range, aiming to distinguish gamma rays from cosmic-ray hadrons.

Contribution

Introduction of a large muon detector array to the Tibet air shower array to improve gamma-ray detection sensitivity at 100 TeV energies.

Findings

Simulated improved sensitivity for 100 TeV gamma-ray detection.

Feasibility of detecting gamma rays in the 100 TeV range.

Potential to discriminate gamma rays from hadronic cosmic rays.

Abstract

The Tibet air shower array, which has an effective area of 37,000 square meters and is located at 4300 m in altitude, has been observing air showers induced by cosmic rays with energies above a few TeV. We are planning to add a large muon detector array to it for the purpose of increasing its sensitivity to cosmic gamma rays in the 100 TeV (10 - 1000 TeV) energy region by discriminating them from cosmic-ray hadrons. We report on the possibility of detection of gamma rays in the 100 TeV energy region in our field of view, based on the improved sensitivity of our air shower array deduced from the full Monte Carlo simulation.