Experimental search for gamma-ray bursts from evaporating primordial black holes

The energy spectra and temporal characteristics of high-energy gamma-ray bursts from evaporating primordial black holes have been calculated using various evaporation models. The currently existing theoretical uncertainties in the shape of the evaporated photon spectrum are discussed. The data from the Andyrchy and Carpet-2 arrays of the Baksan Neutrino Observatory (Institute for Nuclear Research, Russian Academy of Sciences) obtained in the mode of detection of a single cosmic-ray component are used to search for cosmic gamma-ray bursts with a primary photon energy of about 8 GeV. New upper limits have been obtained for the number density of evaporating black holes in a local region of space with a characteristic size of ～10^?3 pc for various evaporation models.     

Hadrons with energies higher than 50 MeV in EASes with <Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis><Subscript><Emphasis Type="Italic">e</Emphasis></Subscript> = 10<Superscript>5</Superscript>–10<Superscript>7</Superscript>

Characteristics of the hadronic component of EASes with hadron energies E _h > 50 MeV were measured on the CARPET-2 complex shower array at the Baksan Neutrino Observatory of the Institute for Nuclear Research, Russian Academy of Sciences. Hadrons were registered using a 6-NM-64 neutron monitor; the data collection system of this array enables us to register the time intervals between pulses of neutron monitor counters with an error of up to 1 μs. For EASes with N _e = 10⁵–10⁷ whose axes are located in CARPET, we obtain the dependence of the mean neutron multiplicity in the neutron monitor on the total number of charged particles in the EAS.     

Investigating the influence of a Forbush decrease on the detected flux of high-energy muons

The effect of Forbush decreases was studied for a flux of high-energy muons with a threshold of 220 GeV detected by the Baksan Underground Scintillation Telescope (BUST) of the Institute for Nuclear Research, Russian Academy of Sciences.     

Searching for Neutrino and Ultra-High-Energy Gamma-Ray Counterparts of the GCN Alerts

Physics of Atomic Nuclei - The Baksan Neutrino Observatory setups are currently performing search for neutrino and ultra-high-energy gamma-ray counterparts of the events on the Gamma-ray...     

Studying the muon and hadron components of extensive air showers with the Carpet-2 array

The method of separating muons and hadrons recorded by the Muon Detector of the Carpet-2 air shower array of Baksan Neutrino Observatory (Institute for Nuclear Research, Russian Academy of Sciences) is described. The results of studying characteristics of the muon and hadron components of extensive air showers (EAS) with N _e ≥ 10⁵ are presented. For the range of distances 40–55 m from shower axes the numbers of hadrons with energies higher than 30 GeV and muons with energies above 1 GeV are obtained as functions of the shower size N _e .     

Investigating hadronic cores of exstensive air showers at the CARPET-2 array

Characteristics of the hadronic component of exstensive air shower (EAS) trunks are investigated at the CARPET-2 array of the Baksan Neutrino Observatory, Institute for Nuclear Research, Russian Academy of Sciences. In this work, we study showers with axes that located within its muon detector (MD). We discuss the procedure for selecting such showers in our experiment. The relationship between the number of thermal neutrons detected by heat detectors installed in the muon detector’s tunnel and the total energy of a cascade generated by hadrons in the magnetic detector’s absorbent matter is presented.     

Neutrons in extensive air showers

The first results of measurements of the thermal-neutron flux in extensive air showers (EASs) using an unshielded scintillation thermal-neutron detector in the Multicom prototype array at the Baksan Neutrino Observatory of the Institute for Nuclear Research are reported. The operating capacity of the new method for studying the EAS hadron component via detection of thermal neutrons and good prospects of this method are demonstrated.     

Lateral distribution function of charged particles in EAS near the axis

High-precision measurements of the lateral distribution function (LDF) of charged particles near the axis of extensive air showers (EASes) were performed with the CARPET air shower array of the Baksan Neutrino Observatory for several ranges of N _e , including the knee region. For the sake of comparison with the experiment, calculations for primary protons and iron nuclei were made using the CORSIKA code (the QGSJET01C model of interaction). The measured experimental LDF is compared with our calculations.     

Muon–hadron detector of the carpet-2 array

The 1-GeV muon–hadron detector of the Carpet-2 multipurpose shower array at the Baksan Neutrino Observatory, Institute for Nuclear Research, Russian Academy of Sciences (INR, Moscow, Russia) is able to record simultaneously muons and hadrons. The procedure developed for this device makes it possible to separate the muon and hadron components to a high degree of precision. The spatial and energy features of the muon and hadron extensive-air-shower components are presented. Experimental data from the Carpet-2 array are contrasted against data from the EAS-TOP and KASCADE arrays and against the results of the calculations based on the CORSIKA (GHEISHA + QGSJET01) code package and performed for primary protons and iron nuclei.     

The Carpet-3 EAS Array for Investigation of Gamma-Radiation with Energy $$\boldsymbol{E>100}$$ TeV

Physics of Atomic Nuclei - The Carpet-3 experiment for investigation of gamma radiation with energy above 100 TeV is currently being prepared at the Baksan Neutrino Observatory of the Institute for...