RPC Telescope Tests for Muon Detection at Laser-Plasma Accelerators

We report on a feasibility study conducted at the ELBA station at the ELI Beamlines facility to investigate the possible production of muons from high-energy electron beams generated by extended laser–plasma interactions in optically generated plasma waveguides. Our team operated a portable, autonomous, and compact telescope based on Resistive Plate Chamber (RPC) detectors, positioned to detect high-penetration charged particles originating from the beam dump. The campaign demonstrated the stable operation of the RPC telescope in the challenging radiation and electromagnetic environment of ELBA. The collected datasets, though statistically limited and acquired during parasitic operation of the accelerator, allow detailed characterization of the background and validated the detectors’ stability and tracking performance. These results confirm the feasibility of the approach and provide the foundation for a dedicated future run under optimized beam conditions, where muon detection sensitivity will be substantially improved.