ARGO-YBJ: Astrophysical Radiation with Ground-based Observatory

ARGO-YBJ is the acronym for “Astrophysical Radiation with Ground-based Observatory at YangBaJing”.

The aim of the ARGO-YBJ experiment wass to study cosmic rays, mainly cosmic gamma-radiation, at an energy threshold of ~100 GeV, by means of the detection of small size air showers. This goal was achieved by operating a full coverage array in the YangBajing Laboratory (Tibet, P.R. China) at 4300 m a.s.l.

 The detector consisted of a single layer of RPCs (Resistive Plate Counters) covering an area of ~6500 m2 and providing a detailed space-time picture of the shower front.

ARGO-YBJ was devoted to a wide range of fundamental issues in Cosmic Rays and Astroparticle Physics, including in particular gamma-ray astronomy and Gamma-Ray Bursts physics at energies higher than 100 GeV.

The experiment was funded by INFN (Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare). Detector assembling started in 2000 and data taking with the first ~750 square meters of RPCs in 2001.   

With different commitments and tasks, the following IASF-Palermo personnel wass part of the ARGO-YBJ group: Giacomo D’Alì Staiti, Antonio Pagliaro, Benedetto Biondo, Angelo Mangano.