The water Cherenkov detector array for studies of cosmic rays at the University of Puebla

Abstract

We describe the design and performance of a hybrid extensive air shower detector array built on the Campus of the University of Puebla ( 19 ∘ N , 90 ∘ W , 800 g / cm 2 ) to measure the energy, arrival direction and composition of primary cosmic rays with energies around 1 PeV, i.e., around the knee of the cosmic ray spectrum. The array consists of 3 water Cherenkov detectors of 1.86 m 2 cross-section and 12 liquid scintillator detectors of 1 m 2 distributed in a square grid with a detector spacing of 20 m over an area of 4000 m 2 . We discuss the calibration and stability of the array for both sets of detectors and report on preliminary measurements and reconstruction of the lateral distributions for the electromagnetic (EM) and muonic components of extensive air showers. We also discuss how the hybrid character of the array can be used to measure mass composition of the primary cosmic rays by estimating the relative contents of muons with respect to the EM component of extensive air showers. This facility is also used to train students interested in the field of cosmic rays.