RPC Telescope Tests for Muon Detection at Laser-Plasma Accelerators

TL;DR

This study demonstrates the reliable operation of RPC detectors in laser-plasma accelerator environments and confirms the feasibility of muon detection from high-energy electron beams.

Contribution

It introduces a portable RPC telescope setup for muon detection in laser-plasma accelerator experiments and validates its performance under challenging conditions.

Findings

RPC detectors operated reliably in the ELBA environment.

Background characterization was achieved despite limited statistics.

The approach is feasible for future muon detection experiments.

Abstract

We report on a feasibility study conducted at the ELBA facility at ELI Beamlines in 2025 to investigate the possible production of muons from high-energy electron beams generated by extended laser-plasma interactions in optically generated plasma waveguides. Our team operated a portable, autonomous, and compact telescope based on Resistive Plate Chamber (RPC) detectors, positioned to detect high-penetration charged particles originating from the beam dump. The campaign demonstrated that RPC detectors can operate reliably and safely in the ELBA environment, even under intense radiation and electromagnetic conditions. The collected datasets, though statistically limited and affected by lack of beam control, allow detailed characterization of the background and validated the detectors' stability and tracking performance. These results confirm the feasibility of the approach and provide the foundation for a dedicated future run under optimized beam conditions, where muon detection sensitivity will be substantially improved.