Computer simulation and experimental development of an air shower core detector

In order to check the hadronic interaction models in the forward region at primary energies of above 10 TeV, a detailed computer simulation and an experimental development of the Yangbajing Air shower Core detector array (YAC) is described. YAC, consisting of 124 detectors for which 100 are arranged into 10 × 10 grid and 24 are surrounded, will be operated together with the Tibet-ASgamma Extensive Air Shower array (Tibet-Ⅲ). By using the hybrid experiment (Tibet-Ⅲ + YAC), the high energy electromagnetic particles in the core region of air showers with primary energies higher than 10 TeV can be recorded. Their number distribution, their energy distribution, their lateral spread distribution and other information, together with the primary energy estimated by the accompanied air shower event recorded by the Tibet-Ⅲ array, can provide important information in checking the interaction models in the corresponding energy region. A sufficient big data sample of about 5.6 × 107 high energy core events in three years observation are expected by the hybrid experiment. (authors)