From a Network to a Networking: The Evolution of the Latin American Giant Observatory
Abstract
The Latin American Giant Observatory (LAGO) is a collaborative initiative that deploys a network of low-cost, autonomous Water Cherenkov Detectors across Latin America and Spain. Initially focused on detecting gamma-ray bursts at high-altitude sites, LAGO has evolved into a multidisciplinary forum for astroparticle physics, space weather studies, and environmental monitoring. Its detectors operate from sea level to over 4300 meters above sea level (m a.s.l.) in diverse geomagnetic and atmospheric conditions. The ARTI-MEIGA simulation framework is a key development that models the entire cosmic-ray interaction chain, enabling site-specific simulations to be integrated into FAIR-compliant workflows. LAGO also plays a significant role in regional education and training through partnerships with ERASMUS+ projects, positioning itself as a hub for research capacity building. New contributions emerging from the collaboration include volcano muography, neutron hydrometry for precision agriculture, and space weather monitoring in the South Atlantic Magnetic Anomaly. LAGO demonstrates how Cherenkov-based detection and open science can drive scientific discovery and practical innovation.
Keywords
Cite
@article{arxiv.2601.10893,
title = {From a Network to a Networking: The Evolution of the Latin American Giant Observatory},
author = {C. Sarmiento-Cano and H. Asorey and M. Audelo and A. Campos Fauth and D. Cazar-Ramirez and A. M. Gulisano and J. A. Lopez-Rodriguez and R. Mayo-Garcia and J. Molina and L. Otiniano and J. R. Sacahui and G. Secchia-Gonzalez and I. Sidelnik and L. A. Nunez},
journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:2601.10893},
year = {2026}
}
Comments
Submitted to the 12th International Workshop on Ring Imaging Cherenkov Detectors (RICH2025)