Apostolos Apostolos TsirigotisTsirigotis

HELYCON HELYCON HeHellenic llenic LyLyceum ceum CCosmic osmic OObservatories bservatories

NNetworketwork

a progress reporta progress reportHellenic Open University, University of Patras, University of Athens, Aegean University,

University of Cyprus

Secondary Education System of Western Greece

The project is co-funded by the European Social Fund & National Resources EPEAEK-II (PYTHAGORAS)

ECRS 2006

Single Station

GPSScintillator-PMT

Scintillator-PMT

Scintillator-PMT

DAQ

~20 m

1 m2

Single Station Set-Up

Triangulation

Shower Direction

Scintillator-PMT

HELYCON in Patras

1019 eV

1017 eV

1015 eV

2 km

The HELYCON Detector Module:

CONSTRUCTION

SC-301 Protvino

BICRON BCF91A

12 fibers/column

TYVEC 4650B PH: XP1912

10 x 12 cm tiles

80 tiles ~ 0.96 m2

Response to Minimum Ionizing Particles

Scintillator A

Scintillator B

Lead

DAQ based on TDS5052 Tektronix (5 Gsamples/s)

discriminators

Inputs

Trigger

Response to a MIP

DAQ S/W based on LabView

On-Line analysis - distributions

Digitized Waveforms saved on hard disk

Detailed Monte Carlo description

Charge (in units of mean p.e. charge)

At the Detector Center

Data

- Monte Carlo Prediction

PRELIMINARY

Response to a MIP

Detector Uniformity

Charge (in units of mean p.e. charge)

X Y

Typical Mean Numb. of p.e. per m.i.p. : 21 (± 10% variation)

PRELIMINARY

Response to a MIP

Detector Uniformity - Timing

Scintillator A

Scintillator B

Lead

discriminators

Inputs

Trigger

ΔΤ consistent with the difference of optical path (fiber refractive index n=1.6)

PRELIMINARY

Response to a MIP

Timing Resolution

Pulse High (mV)

ns

Slewing

ΔT in ns

σ=2.8ns

mip waveform time resolution: ~ 2ns

BUT…

thickness

Response to Showers

DiscriminatorTrigger

Input A

Input B

Charge (in units of mean pe charge) Charge (in units of mean pe charge)

-- on top of each other

-- 2.6 m apart

-- on top of each other

-- 2.6 m apart

HELYCON ReadOut Electronics

GPS Input

USB PortTrigger Ouput4 PMT Signal Inputs

25ps accuracy TDC

HPTDC

• 32 channels (LR) – 8 Channels (HR)

•25ps (HR) to 800 ps (LR) accuracy

•Self Calibrating

Monte Carlo Studies

Θrec-Θtrue

Single Station Performance

Vertical Proton Showers (106-107 GeV)

Distance from core (m)

Reconstruction efficiency

Angular Resolution (degrees)

Distance from core (m)

Resolution per reconstructed track (degrees)

Examples of a 3-Station Performance

Crude (plane approximation) Analysis

Vertical Proton Showers (106-107 GeV)

mm

mm

Charge (in units of mean pe charge)

An Sea-Top DetectorThe General Idea…

•Angular offset

•Efficiency

•Resolution

•Position

Threshold Charge (pes)

Resolution in determining a possible Angular Offset (degrees)-10 day operation

Time SchedulePrototype detector full test

(PMT and Scintillator)

May 2006

Done

Production & test of 15 detectors September 2006 (10 detectors ready)

Electronics Testing October 2006 (the prototype is currently tested)

DAQ Test + Detectors July-September 2006

DONE

Online Software-Analysis Tools-Reconstruction Strategy Development

-end 2006

(almost ready)

3 station Run Autumn 2006 ?

(end 2006)

2007:

4 more stations in Patras area + 3 more stations in Chios + radio detection of EAS