The ARGO-YBJ experiment in Tibet

Aloisio, A.; Bacci, C.; Bao, K. Z.; Barone, F.; Bartoli, B.; Bernardini, P.; Bleve, C.; Branchini, P.; Bussino, S.; Calloni, E.; Camarri, P.; Cao, B. Y.; Cardarelli, R.; Casolino, M.; Catalanotti, S.; Cavaliere, A.; Cavaliere, S.; Cesaroni, F.; Cha, M.; Creti, P.; Cusimano, G.; Staiti, G. D.; Danzengluobu,; D'Elia, V.; De Mitri, I.; D'Ettorre, B.; Piazzoli, B. D.; Vincenzi, M. D.; Girolamo, T. D.; Sciascio, G. D.; Feng, Z. Y.; Fu, Y.; Gao, X. Y.; Geng, Q. X.; Guo, H. W.; H. H., He; Huang, Q.; Iacovacci, M.; Iucci, N.; Jai, H. Y.; Kong, F. M.; Kuang, H. H.; Labaciren,; Li, B.; J. Y., Li; Liberti, B.; Liguori, G.; Liu, Z. Q.; Lu, H.; X. H., Ma; Mancarella, G.; Mari, S. M.; Marsella, G.; Martello, D.; Meng, X. R.; Milano, L.; Mineo, T.; Mu, J.; Nicastro, L.; Orlando, D.; Panareo, M.; Paoloni, A.; Peng, Z. R.; Pistilli, P.; Raso, G.; Sacco, B.; Saggese, L.; Santonico, R.; Scarsi, L.; Shen, P. R.; Stanescu, C.; Storini, M.; Sun, L. R.; Sun, S. C.; Surdo, A.; Tan, Y. H.; Vallania, P.; Vernetto, S.; Wang, C. R.; Wang, H.; Wang, H. Y.; Wei, Y. N.; Yao, Q. K.; G. C., Yu; Yue, X. D.; Yuan, A. F.; Zhang, H. M.; Zhang, J. L.; Zhang, N. J.; Zhang, T. J.; Zhang, X. Y.; Zhaxiciren, Zhaxisangzhu; Zhu, Q. Q.

The ARCO-YBJ experiment, (Astrophysical Radiation Ground-based Observatory at YaugBaJing) is under construction in Tibet, 90 kill to the north of Lhasa. The full coverage approach and the high altitude location allow the study of many physics items in the field of low energy cosmic rays, namely gamma-ray astronomy, diffuse gamma-rays, gamma-ray bursts (GRBs), proton/antiproton ratio, primary proton spectrum and heliosphere physics, In this paper the expected sensitivities of ARGO-YBJ for gamma astronomy and GRB physics are presented and compared with the present experimental techniques and results. The performance of a test-module of similar to 50 m(2) operated on-site is, also discussed.