GAPSimulator

Our project is to create a more accurate and accessible application to showcase the research being conducted by the General Anti-Particle Spectrometer (GAPS) research team. The GAPS particle detector will conduct a high-altitude survey over Antarctica to detect cosmic rays. GAPS is designed to detect the lowest-energy anti-deuterons ever recorded for the purpose of understanding dark matter interactions. In order to communicate these results to the general public, we improved upon the work of a past project which visualizes the GAPS detector and its detection using the 3D modeling software Blender and the augmented reality functionality of the software Unity. First, we have updated the geometry of the detector and the particle tracks to reflect the most current version. To do this, the model for the detector and each interaction event was processed in Blender, then imported into Unity. The particle tracks were also animated in order to convey the temporal data recorded in each interaction. Finally, the process by which new detector geometry and detection events are imported into Blender was also revamped for easier development in the future. With this complete, we published the application to the Google Play Store and imported the project to Xcode to publish it on the Apple App Store to increase accessibility.