The MIDAS telescope for microwave detection of ultra-high energy cosmic rays

• Published in: arXiv.org 2012-08
• Main Authors: Alvarez-Muñiz, J, E Amaral Soares, Berlin, A, Bogdan, M, Boháčová, M, Bonifazi, C, Carvalho, W R, J R T de Mello Neto, San Luis, P Facal, Genat, J F, Hollon, N, Mills, E, Monasor, M, Privitera, P, Ramos de Castro, A, Reyes, L C, B Rouille d'Orfeuil, Santos, E M, Wayne, S, Williams, C, Zas, E, Zhou, J
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Augers; C band; Colleges & universities; Cosmic ray showers; Cosmic rays; Digital electronics; Field of view; Fluorescence; Horns; Microwaves; Photons; Space telescopes; Telescope design
• ISSN: 2331-8422
• DOI: 10.48550/arxiv.1208.2734

We present the design, implementation and data taking performance of the MIcrowave Detection of Air Showers (MIDAS) experiment, a large field of view imaging telescope designed to detect microwave radiation from extensive air showers induced by ultra-high energy cosmic rays. This novel technique may bring a tenfold increase in detector duty cycle when compared to the standard fluorescence technique based on detection of ultraviolet photons. The MIDAS telescope consists of a 4.5 m diameter dish with a 53-pixel receiver camera, instrumented with feed horns operating in the commercial extended C-Band (3.4 -- 4.2 GHz). A self-trigger capability is implemented in the digital electronics. The main objectives of this first prototype of the MIDAS telescope - to validate the telescope design, and to demonstrate a large detector duty cycle - were successfully accomplished in a dedicated data taking run at the University of Chicago campus prior to installation at the Pierre Auger Observatory.