Search for high-energy gamma-ray emissionand upgrade of the GAMMA experiment on Mt. Aragats

We present the current status of the search for possible diffuse orlocalized gamma-ray emission at energies above about 100 TeV with the GAMMA air shower detector which is located at 3200 m a.s.l. on Mt. Aragats, Armenia. For this search we select muon-poor extensive air showers detected by GAMMA. We discuss ongoing studies of improved criteria for the selection of muon-poor showers, taking into account the geometry of the muon underground detector array in 2004-2011. A modernization of the muon array was completed between October 2011 and February 2012. Sixty additional muon scintillation detectors were installed and are now taking data. They will improvethe the selection of muon-poor showers, the primary energy estimation, and should also yield improved information on the mass composition.