Cosmic ray physics with the ARGO-YBJ experiment A. Surdo (on behalf of the ARGO-YBJ Collaboration) INFN – Sezione di Lecce, via Arnesano, 73100 Lecce, Italy
Received: 12 Nov 2010 – Accepted: 19 Jan 2011 – Published: 19 Apr 2011
Abstract. The main scientific goals of the ARGO-YBJ experiment are γ-ray astronomy with a
few hundreds GeV energy threshold and cosmic ray physics
below and around the knee of the primary energy spectrum (1012–1016 eV), where
the transition from direct to indirect measurement techniques takes place.
The ARGO-YBJ experiment, located at the Cosmic Ray Observatory of Yangbajing
(Tibet, P.R. of China, 4 300 m a.s.l.), is an unconventional Extensive Air Shower array
of about 6,700 m2 of active area, the only one exploiting the full-coverage
technique at very high altitude currently in operation.
The detector space-time granularity, performance and location offer a unique chance to make a
detailed study of the structure of cosmic ray showers, in particular of the hadronic component.
In this work we will focus on the main experimental results concerning cosmic
ray and hadronic interaction physics: primary cosmic ray energy spectrum, antiproton
over proton ratio, anisotropy in the cosmic ray flux and proton-air cross-section.
Moreover, the possible data analysis improvements based
on the use of all detailed information on the shower front (curvature, time width,
rise time, ..), as well as the extension of the investigable energy range, allowed
by the analog RPC readout, will be pointed out.
Citation: A. Surdo (on behalf of the ARGO-YBJ Collaboration): Cosmic ray physics with the ARGO-YBJ experiment, Astrophys. Space Sci. Trans., 7, 131-136, doi:10.5194/astra-7-131-2011, 2011.