Investigating the characteristics of scintillation detectors for the NEVOD-EAS experiment

Abstract

A cluster type NEVOD-EAS setup is being constructed by the National Research Nuclear University MEPhI on the basis of the Unique Scientific Facility “Experimental Complex NEVOD”. The NEVODEAS setup is intended for the detection of extensive air showers (EASs) with energies in the region of the knee in the energy spectrum of primary cosmic rays (10¹⁵–10¹⁷ eV). The key elements of the setup are 192 particle detectors for EAS electron–photon and muon components. These detectors are composed of NE102A organic scintillators and Philips XP3462 photomultiplier tubes enclosed in pyramidal steel cases. The techniques used to investigate the characteristics of scintillator plates, photomultiplier tubes, and NEVOD-EAS detectors, as well as the results of this investigation, are discussed. All measurements have been taken using special testing facilities and the precision URAGAN muon hodoscope, with which it is possible to comprehensively investigate the nonuniformity of light collection in the detector (the dependence of the detector response on the location of the passage of a charged particle through its operating volume).