Outdoor Systems Performace and Upgrade

TL;DR

This paper discusses the deployment, reactivation, and recent advancements of RPC systems in outdoor applications, highlighting their use in geophysical mapping and improvements in large-area detectors.

Contribution

It presents new developments in RPC technology for outdoor use, including field deployment experiences, reactivation after long inactivity, and advancements in large-area detectors.

Findings

Successful reactivation of detectors after two years without gas flow

Deployment of RPCs in the Pierre Auger Observatory for field studies

Development of large-area double gap-sealed RPCs

Abstract

Over the last two decades, the possibility of using RPCs in outdoors systems has increased considerably. Our group has participated in this effort having installed several systems and continues to work on their optimization, while simultaneously studying and developing new approaches that can to use of RPCs in outdoor applications. In particular, some detectors were deployed in the field at the Pierre Auger Observatory in 2019 remained inactive, awaiting the commissioning of support systems. During the pandemic the detectors were left without gas flow for more than two years, but were recently reactivated with no major problems. The LouMu project combines particle physics and geophysics in order to map large geologic structures, using Muon Tomography. The development of the RPC system used and the data from the last two years will be presented. Finally, recent advances in a large area (1 m2) double gap-sealed RPC will be presented.