The HAWC Gamma-Ray Observatory: Design, Calibration, and Operation

Author(s): Collaboration, HAWC; Abeysekara, AU; Alfaro, R; Alvarez, C; Alvarez, JD; Arceo, R; Arteaga-Velazquez, JC; Solares, HAA; Barber, AS; Baughman, BM; Bautista-Elivar, N; Belmont, E; BenZvi, SY; Berley, D; Rosales, MB; Braun, J; Caballero-Lopez, RA; Caballero-Mora, KS; Carraminana, A; Castillo, M; Cotti, U; Cotzomi, J; Fuente, EDL; Leon, CD; DeYoung, T; Hernandez, RD; Diaz-Velez, JC; Dingus, BL; DuVernois, MA; Ellsworth, RW; Fernandez, A; Fiorino, DW; Fraija, N; Galindo, A; Garfias, F; Gonzalez, LX; Gonzalez, MM; Goodman, JA; Grabski, V; Gussert, M; Hampel-Arias, Z; Hui, CM; Huntemeyer, P; Imran, A; Iriarte, A; Karn, P; Kieda, D; Kunde, GJ; Lara, A; Lauer, RJ; Lee, WH; Lennarz, D; Vargas, HL; Linares, EC; Linnemann, JT; Longo, M; Luna-GarcIa, R; Marinelli, A; Martinez, H; Martinez, O; Martinez-Castro, J; Matthews, JAJ; Miranda-Romagnoli, P; Moreno, E; Mostafa, M; Nava, J; Nellen, L; Newbold, M; Noriega-Papaqui, R; Oceguera-Becerra, T; Patricelli, B; Pelayo, R; Perez-Perez, EG; Pretz, J; Riviere, C; Rosa-Gonzalez, D; Salazar, H; Salesa, F; Sanchez, FE; Sandoval, A; Santos, E; Schneider, M; Silich, S; Sinnis, G; Smith, AJ | Abstract: The High-Altitude Water Cherenkov Gamma Ray Observatory (HAWC) is under construction 4100 meters above sea level at Sierra Negra, Mexico. We describe the design and cabling of the detector, the characterization of the photomultipliers, and the timing calibration system. We also outline a next-generation detector based on the water Cherenkov technique.