The ecological transition of the extreme energy events experiment

• Published in: Nuclear instruments & methods in physics research. Section A, Accelerators, spectrometers, detectors and associated equipment Accelerators, spectrometers, detectors and associated equipment, 2023-10, Vol.1055, p.168431, Article 168431
• Main Authors: Abbrescia, M., Avanzini, C., Baldini, L., Baldini Ferroli, R., Batignani, G., Battaglieri, M., Boi, S., Bossini, E., Carnesecchi, F., Cavazza, F., Cicaló, C., Cifarelli, L., Coccetti, F., Coccia, E., Corvaglia, A., De Gruttola, D., De Pasquale, S., Galante, L., Garbini, M., Gemme, G., Gnesi, I., Grazzi, S., Hatzifotiadou, D., La Rocca, P., Liu, Z., Mandaglio, G., Margotti, A., Maron, G., Mazziotta, M.N., Mulliri, A., Nania, R., Noferini, F., Nozzoli, F., Palmonari, F., Panareo, M., Panetta, M.P., Paoletti, R., Pellegrino, C., Perasso, L., Pinazza, O., Pinto, C., Pisano, S., Riggi, F., Righini, G., Ripoli, C., Rizzi, M., Sartorelli, G., Scapparone, E., Schioppa, M., Scioli, G., Scribano, A., Selvi, M., Taiuti, M., Terreni, G., Trifiró, A., Trimarchi, M., Vistoli, C., Votano, L., Williams, M.C.S., Zichichi, A., Zuyeuski, R.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Large detector systems for particle and astroparticle physics; Large detector-systems performance; Particle tracking detectors (Gaseous detectors); Resistive-plate chambers
• ISSN: 0168-9002; 1872-9576
• DOI: 10.1016/j.nima.2023.168431

The need for reducing the emission of gases, potentially contributing to the greenhouse effect and climate change, has impacted many fields, including scientific research. The Extreme Energy Event (EEE) collaboration started, already several years ago, a series of tests aiming at finding a more eco-friendly replacement for the gases used in the Multigap Resistive Plate Chambers (MRPCs) of its network. These tests identified a promising binary gas mixture, and data taking has begun with a subset of the telescopes of the EEE network, making EEE the first experiment in the world completely implemented with MRPCs and operating with an eco-friendly gas mixture. Here the results of the tests and a preliminary comparison of the telescope performance measured with the standard (non eco-friendly) and the new eco-friendly gas mixtures are presented and discussed.