The μPPET Project: Application of J-PET for Cosmic Rays Investigation

A. Porcellia, b, c aFaculty of Physics, Astronomy and Applied Computer Science, Jagiellonian University, prof. Stanisława Łojasiewicza 11, 30-348 Kraków, Poland bCentro de Investigación, Tecnología, Educación y Vinculación Astronómica, Universidad de Antofagasta, Avenida Angamos 601, 1240000 Antofagasta, Chile cLaboratori Nazionali di Frascati, Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare, Via Enrico Fermi 54, 00044 Frascati, Italy

Full Text PDF

The μPPET project aims to study the cause of the observed excess of muons on the ground in extensive air showers - the so-called muon puzzle. In particular, it tests specific hypotheses that might lead to the solution of this 15-year-long-standing puzzle. The project repurposes two J-PET scanners developed by the Jagiellonian University as a muon tracker and an air-shower detection array. To make the first measurements in summer 2026, Monte Carlo simulations were used to understand the muon calibration in the muon tracker and possible array configurations. Progress achieved on these two crucial steps is presented in this work.

DOI:10.12693/APhysPolA.148.S80 topics: Jagiellonian positron emission tomography (J-PET), muon puzzle, extensive air showers, mu(μ)on probe with J-PET (μPPET)