Detection of GRBs at high altitudes with a prototype water Cherenkov detector using single-particle technology

Ground extensive air shower experiment is powerless for detecting cosmic ray particles of tens-GeV energy in the GRBs (Gamma Ray Burst) so far, because of its threshold energy. The experimental altitude needs to be increased in order to achieve more effective observation. In this study a water Cherenkov detector prototype based on the single-particle counting technology was constructed to detect GRBs at an altitude of 3,650 m. The preliminary test results show that the detector made in this study has stable performance and can detect cosmic rays. If it is placed at an altitude of approximately 5,200 m, the GRBs with tens-GeV of energy can hopefully be detected.