The National Research Nuclear University "MEPhI" has completed the creation of the supporting structure and technological systems of the unique detector — TREK. It will be the largest in the world coordinate-tracking detector on drift chambers designed for cosmic ray research. Information is published in the Journal of Instrumentation.

The main goal of the TREK detector — study of near-horizontal groups of muons, said professor, head of the Scientific and Educational Center (REC) NEVOD MEPhI, head of the MEPhI master's program Particle Physics and Astrophysics Anatoly Petrukhin.

The main purpose of the TREK detector is to study near-horizontal groups

information on the interaction of a proton or nucleus arriving from space with the nucleus of an air atom (nitrogen or oxygen). Due to this, by studying muons, it is possible, on the one hand, to study interaction processes at ultrahigh energies, which are inaccessible even to the Large Hadron Collider. On the other hand, astrophysical studies can be carried out, since primary protons or nuclei are born and accelerated in active cosmic processes, the nature of which is still very poorly understood.

According to scientists, previously nobody build such large coordinate-tracking detectors for registering cosmic rays, especially on such a complex class of devices as multiwire drift chambers developed by the Institute of High Energy Physics of the National Research Center "Kurchatov Institute".

Students and postgraduates of MEPhI are actively involved in the creation of the detector, noted Anatoly Petrukhin.

"The TREK project, like other detectors and installations created at the NEVOD center, started as student and postgraduate work. Our experience in combining educational and research activities was awarded the President of the Russian Federation Prize in the field of education. From 2001 to 2020, our students, postgraduate students and young employees received 16 medals of the Russian Academy of Sciences, " he added.

Currently, work is in progress to develop and test the elements of the registering system of the TREK detector and prepare for the installation of the first stage of drift chambers.

Source: RIA Novosti