Improved calibration process for the WCDs of the LAGO project using semi-analytic model

TL;DR

This paper presents a semi-analytic calibration method for Water Cherenkov Detectors in the LAGO project, improving the estimation of the Vertical Equivalent Muon (VEM) and muon flux using charge histograms and modeling.

Contribution

It introduces a semi-analytic calibration process that estimates VEM load distribution from charge histograms, enhancing detector calibration accuracy.

Findings

The method accurately estimates VEM load distribution.

It improves muon flux measurement precision.

The approach simplifies calibration procedures.

Abstract

Direct measurements of VEM using scintillating plastic plates in water Cherenkov prototype detectors and a muon flux model were previously used to reproduce the charge histogram of a detector. In these measurements the VEM has a significantly lower value than would be obtained by locating the charge histogram maximum. In this technical note we will use the inverse process, being known the charge histogram we will use a simple model to estimate the load distribution of the VEM. We will then use this VEM distribution and a one-hour secondary cosmic ray flux simulation to estimate the total muon component of the histogram.