Deployment and calibration procedures for accurate timing and directional reconstruction of EAS particle-fronts with HELYCON stations

TL;DR

This paper details the deployment, calibration, and performance evaluation of the HELYCON network of stations designed for accurate detection and directional reconstruction of cosmic ray-induced atmospheric showers.

Contribution

It introduces the HELYCON stations, their calibration procedures, and a detailed simulation framework for precise EAS detection and reconstruction.

Findings

Successful deployment and calibration of three HELYCON stations

Development of a detailed simulation for detector response

Evaluation shows accurate directional reconstruction of EAS

Abstract

High energy cosmic rays, with energies thousands of times higher than those encountered in particle accelerators, offer scientists the means of investigating the elementary properties of matter. In order to detect high energy cosmic rays, new detection hardware and experimental methods are being developed. In this work, we describe the network of HELYCON (HEllenic LYceum Cosmic Observatories Network) autonomous stations for the detection and directional reconstruction of Extended Atmospheric Showers (EAS) particle-fronts. HELYCON stations are hybrid stations consisting of three large plastic scintillators plus a CODALEMA antenna for the RF detection of EAS particle-fronts. We present the installation, operation and calibration of three HELYCON stations and the electronic components for the remote control, monitor and Data Acquisition. We report on the software package developed for the detailed simulation of the detectors' response and for the stations' operation. The simulation parameters have been fine tuned in order to accurately describe each individual detector's characteristics and the operation of each HELYCON station. Finally, the evaluation of the stations' performance in reconstructing the direction of the EAS particle-front is being presented.