Calibration of the RPC charge readout in the ARGO-YBJ experiment

Authors :: Aielli, G.
Bacci, C.
Bartoli, B.
Bernardini, P.
Bi, X.J.
Bleve, C.
Branchini, P.
Budano, A.
Bussino, S.
Calabrese Melcarne, A.K.
Camarri, P.
Cao, Z.
Cappa, A.
Cardarelli, R.
Catalanotti, S.
Cattaneo, C.
Celio, P.
Chen, S.Z.
Chen, T.L.
Chen, Y.
Source :: Nuclear Instruments & Methods in Physics Research Section A. Jan2012 Supplement 1, Vol. 661, pS56-S59. 0p.
Publication Year :: 2012
Abstract: Abstract: The charge readout of Resistive Plate Chambers (RPCs) is implemented in the ARGO-YBJ experiment to measure the charged particle density of the shower front up to 104/m2, enabling the study of the primary cosmic rays with energies in the “knee” region. As the first time for RPCs being used this way, a telescope with RPCs and scintillation detectors is setup to calibrate the number of charged particles hitting a RPC versus its charge readout. Air shower particles are taken as the calibration beam. The telescope was tested at sea level and then moved to the ARGO-YBJ site for coincident operation with the ARGO-YBJ experiment. The charge readout shows good linearity with the particle density in the dynamic range (up to 200/m2). [Copyright &y& Elsevier]