The observation of PeV cosmic rays is essential to solving the question on the origin of cosmic rays, but because these are affected by magnetic fields, $\gamma$-rays at the sub-PeV scale emerge as a better tool to search for sources in our galaxy.
In $2019$ the Tibet AS$\gamma$ collaboration reported the detection of sub-PeV $\gamma$-rays coming from the Crab nebula using a novel technique with a hybrid Surface Array and underground muon detector to improve the discrimination against hadrons. Using this technique we will explore the $gamma$-ray sky in the Southern Hemisphere through a new experiment: the Andes Large area PArticle detector for Cosmic ray physics and Astronomy (ALPACA).
The future detector to be installed near the Chacaltaya mountain at an altitude of $4740$ $\mathrm{m}$ will cover an area of $83000$ $\mathrm{m}^{2}$ with $400$ scintillation counters and $4$ underground muon detectors of $900$ $\mathrm{m}^{2}$. A prototype array called ALPAQUITA, having $1/4$ of the total area of the full ALPACA, is planned to start scientific observations in $2022$ and then expand to cover the full area of the array but with half density.
In this presentation, we will introduce the capabilities of the ALPACA experiment and the current status of ALPAQUITA, and plans to extend and improve the basic design. In this sense, we will include our efforts in developing a flexible DAQ system and further techniques to improve the $\gamma$/CR separation.
Marcos Anzorena
(ICRR)
Mr
Shunta Asano
(Department of Physics, Shinshu University)
Dr
Cesar Augusto H. Condori
(Instituto de Investigaciones Físicas, UMSA)
Dr
Eduardo de la Fuente
(Universidad de Guadalajara)
Mr
Asuka Gomi
(Faculty of Engineering, Yokohama National University)
Dr
Kinya Hibino
(Faculty of Engineering, Kanagawa University)
Dr
Naoki Hotta
(Utsunomiya University)
Dr
Yusaku Katayose
(Faculty of Engineering, Yokohama National University)
Dr
Chihiro Kato
(Department of Physics, Shinshu University)
Mr
Sei Kato
(Institute for Cosmic Ray Research, University of Tokyo)
Mr
Teruyoshi Kawashima
(Institute for Cosmic Ray Research, University of Tokyo)
Dr
Kazumasa Kawata
(Institute for Cosmic Ray Research, University of Tokyo)
Dr
Tatsumi Koi
(College of Engineering, Chubu University)
Dr
Hiroshi Kojima
(Chubu Innovative Astronomical Observatory)
Mr
Daichi Kurashige
(Faculty of Engineering, Yokohama National University)
Mr
Jorge Lozoya
(Universidad de Guadalajara)
Dr
Rosa Mayta
(NITEP, Osaka Metropolitan University)
Dr
Pedro Miranda
(Instituto de Investigaciones Físicas, UMSA)
Dr
Kazuoki Munakata
(Department of Physics, Shinshu University)
Mr
Kaito Nagaya
(Faculty of Engineering, Yokohama National University)
Mr
Yoshiaki Nakamura
(Institute for Cosmic Ray Research, University of Tokyo)
Dr
Yuuki Nakazawa
(College of Industrial Technology, Nihon University)
Dr
Carlos Nina
(Instituto de Investigaciones Físicas, UMSA)
Dr
Masaki Nishizawa
(National Institute of Informatics)
Dr
Shoichi Ogio
(Institute for Cosmic Ray Research, University of Tokyo)
Dr
Munehiro Ohnishi
(Institute for Cosmic Ray Research, University of Tokyo)
Mr
Sosuke Okukawa
(Faculty of Engineering, Yokohama National University)
Dr
Felipe Orozco
(Universidad de Guadalajara)
Dr
Akitoshi Oshima
(College of Engineering, Chubu University)
Dr
Atsushi Shiomi
(College of Industrial Technology, Nihon University)
Mr
H Torres
(Universidad de Guadalajara)
Dr
Harufumi Tsuchiya
(JAEA)
Dr
Hugo Rivera
(Instituto de Investigaciones Físicas, UMSA)
Mr
Ivan Toledano-Juarez
(Universidad de Guadalajara)
Dr
Katsuya Yamazaki
(College of Engineering, Chubu University)
Dr
Koichi Tanaka
(Graduate School of Information Sciences, Hiroshima City University)
Dr
Martin Subieta
(Instituto de Investigaciones Físicas, UMSA)
Prof.
Masato Takita
(Institute for Cosmic Ray Research, University of Tokyo)
Dr
Mirko Raljevich
(Instituto de Investigaciones Físicas, UMSA)
Dr
Norio Tajima
(RIKEN)
Dr
Rolando Ticona
(Instituto de Investigaciones Físicas, UMSA)
Dr
Shigeharu Udo
(Faculty of Engineering, Kanagawa University)
Dr
Shoichi Shibata
(Chubu Innovative Astronomical Observatory)
Dr
Takashi K. Sako
(Institute for Cosmic Ray Research, University of Tokyo)
Dr
Takashi Sako
(Institute for Cosmic Ray Research, University of Tokyo)
Dr
Toshiharu Saito
(Tokyo Metropolitan College of Industrial Technology)
Mr
Wakiko Takano
(Faculty of Engineering, Kanagawa University)
Mr
Yohei Sakakibara
(Faculty of Engineering, Yokohama National University)
Mr
Yoshichika Yokoe
(Institute for Cosmic Ray Research, University of Tokyo)
Dr
Yoshiki Tsunesada
(NITEP, Osaka Metropolitan University)
Dr
Yuichiro Tameda
(Faculty of Engineering, Osaka Electro-Communication University)
