HAWC Upgrade for Multi-TeV {\gamma}-ray Detection

TL;DR

The HAWC observatory is being upgraded with a sparse array of small water tanks to significantly improve its sensitivity and area for multi-TeV gamma-ray detection, with ongoing status and simulation results presented.

Contribution

This paper details the design, implementation, and expected performance improvements of the HAWC upgrade using a new sparse array of small water Cherenkov tanks.

Findings

Extended the instrumental area by a factor of 4.

Enhanced sensitivity at the highest energies.

Optimized array performance through simulations.

Abstract

The High Altitude Water Cherenkov (HAWC) high-energy {\gamma}-ray observatory was completed in march 2015 in central Mexico. The detector, consisting of 300 water tanks, is currently being upgraded to improve its performance at Multi-TeV energies, with a sparse array of small water Cherenkov tanks. It will extend the instrumental area by a factor of 4, and enhance the sensitivity at the highest energies. In this contribution, the current status of the observatory is presented, as well as the coming upgrade. The electronics and the readout system for the new sparse array of small water tanks are also desrcibed, and results from simulations performed to optimize the performance of the array are discussed.