The Tunka-133 EAS Cherenkov light array: Status of 2011

• Published in: Nuclear instruments & methods in physics research. Section A, Accelerators, spectrometers, detectors and associated equipment Accelerators, spectrometers, detectors and associated equipment, 2012-11, Vol.692, p.98-105
• Main Authors: Berezhnev, S.F., Besson, D., Budnev, N.M., Chiavassa, A., Chvalaev, O.A., Gress, O.A., Dyachok, A.N., Epimakhov, S.N., Haungs, A., Karpov, N.I., Kalmykov, N.N., Konstantinov, E.N., Korobchenko, A.V., Korosteleva, E.E., Kozhin, V.A., Kuzmichev, L.A., Lubsandorzhiev, B.K., Lubsandorzhiev, N.B., Mirgazov, R.R., Panasyuk, M.I., Pankov, L.V., Popova, E.G., Prosin, V.V., Ptuskin, V.S., Semeney, Yu.A., Shaibonov, B.A., Silaev, A.A., Skurikhin, A.V., Snyder, J., Spiering, C., Schröder, F.G., Stockham, M., Sveshnikova, L.G., Wischnewski, R., Yashin, I.V., Zagorodnikov, A.V.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Accelerators; Antennas; Arrays; Calibration; Cosmic rays; Detectors; EAS Cherenkov light array; Energy spectrum; Lakes; Mass composition; Seasons; Winter
• ISSN: 0168-9002; 1872-9576
• DOI: 10.1016/j.nima.2011.12.091

A new EAS Cherenkov light array, Tunka-133, with ∼1km2 geometrical area has been installed at the Tunka Valley (50km from Lake Baikal) in 2009. The array permits a detailed study of cosmic ray energy spectrum and mass composition in the energy range 1016–1018eV with a uniform method. We describe the array construction, DAQ and methods of the array calibration. The method of energy reconstruction and absolute calibration of measurements are discussed. The analysis of spatial and time structure of EAS Cherenkov light allows to estimate the depth of the EAS maximum Xmax. The results on the all particles energy spectrum and the mean depth of the EAS maximum Xmax vs. primary energy derived from the data of two winter seasons (2009–2011) are presented. Preliminary results of joint operation of the Cherenkov array with antennas for the detection of EAS radio signals are shown. Plans for future upgrades – deployment of remote clusters, radioantennas and a scintillator detector network and a prototype of the HiSCORE gamma-telescope – are discussed.