miniTRASGO: design and initial results of a compact resistive plate chamber telescope for worldwide cosmic ray monitoring

Abstract

Cosmic rays, composed primarily of high-energy protons and atomic nuclei, interact with Earth’s atmosphere, generating secondary particles that can be detected at ground level. Understanding these interactions requires precise measurements across various geomagnetic and atmospheric conditions. To address this challenge, miniTRASGO is introduced: a cost-effective and portable cosmic ray detector based on Resistive Plate Chambers, designed for worldwide deployment. This study describes the miniTRASGO system, including its design, data acquisition, and calibration processes. The detector measures charged secondary cosmic rays, reconstructs particle trajectories, and accounts for environmental influences such as pressure and temperature. Performance evaluations indicate an angular precision better than and an efficiency of approximately 95 %. The first operational miniTRASGO stations, deployed in Madrid (Spain), Warsaw (Poland), Puebla, and Monterrey (Mexico), allow for multi-site monitoring of cosmic ray flux. A Forbush Decrease event observed in March 2024 by the Madrid station validates the detector’s capability for space weather studies. The results highlight the potential of miniTRASGO to contribute to global cosmic ray monitoring, improving the characterization of cosmic ray variations and their implications for space weather.