Aachen Muon Detector

 

Precise measurements of the muon content of extensive air showers are essential for the identification of the chemical composition of ultra-high-energy cosmic rays. Therefore, a new scintillator detector is proposed, the Aachen Muon Detector (AMD). It can complement existing ground arrays composed of, e.g., water-Cherenkov detector stations.

The detector consists of 64 scintillator tiles read out by semiconductor photo sensors, silicon photomultipliers (SiPM), which are located in a steel housing that could be placed beneath existing detector stations. SiPMs promise a photon detection efficiency which outperforms current photomultiplier tubes. In combination with their compact package, low cost per light sensor and a moderate bias voltage (< 100 volts) a modular and robust design can be achieved.

First characterisation measurements of the scintillator tiles have been performed. Also a detailed detector-response-simulation framework based on Geant4 has been developed to evaluate the baseline design of AMD and to investigate the improvement obtained by AMD in determining the mass composition of cosmic rays or in other possible applications as large area muon detector, veto and counter.

For a detailed description of the AMD prototype layout and first measurements, please refer to:
Ch. Peters, T. Bretz, T. Hebbeker, M. Lauscher, R. Meißner, L. Middendorf, T. Niggemann, J. Schumacher,
"The muon detector prototype AMD for the determination of the muon content in UHECRs", ICRC (2015)

 

Current Construction Progress

The AMD prototype has been assembled and first measurements of atmospheric muons have already been performed.