The DØ experiment enjoyed a very successful data-collection run at the Fermilab Tevatron collider between 1992 and 1996. Since then, the detector has been upgraded to take advantage of improvements to the Tevatron and to enhance its physics capabilities. We describe the new elements of the detector, including the silicon microstrip tracker, central fiber tracker, solenoidal magnet, preshower detectors, forward muon detector, and forward proton detector. The uranium/liquid-argon calorimeters and central muon detector, remaining from Run I, are discussed briefly. We also present the associated electronics, triggering, and data acquisition systems, along with the design and implementation of software specific to DØ.

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We describe the design, construction and performance of the upgraded DØ muon system for Run II of the Fermilab Tevatron collider. Significant improvements have been made to the major subsystems of the DØ muon detector: trigger scintillation counters, tracking detectors, and electronics. The Run II central muon detector has a new scintillation counter system inside the iron toroid and an improved scintillation counter system outside the iron toroid. In the forward region, new scintillation counter and tracking systems have been installed. Extensive shielding has been added in the forward region. A large fraction of the muon system electronics is also new.

Aims. The nearby (z = 0.031) TeV blazar Mrk 421 was reported to be in a high state of flux activity since November, 2009. We aim to investigate possible changes in the physical parameters of Mrk 421 during its high state of activity using multiwavelength data. Methods. We have observed this source in the bright state using the High Altitude GAmma Ray (HAGAR) telescope array at energies above 250 GeV during February 13-19, 2010. Optical, X-ray and γ-ray archival data were also used to obtain the spectral energy distribution and light curves. Results. Mrk 421 was found to undergo one of its brightest flaring episodes on February 17, 2010 by various observations in X-rays and γ-rays. HAGAR observations during February 13-19, 2010 at energies above 250 GeV show an enhancement in the flux level, with a maximum flux of ∼7 Crab units being detected on February 17, 2010. We present the spectral energy distributions during this flaring episode and investigate the correlation of the variability in X-ray and γ-ray bands. Conclusions. Our multiwavelength study suggests that the flare detected during February 16 and 17, 2010 may have been caused by a passing shock in the jet.

Context. The HAGAR Telescope Array at Hanle, Ladakh has been regularly monitoring the nearby blazar Mkn 421 for the past seven years. Aims. Blazars show flux variability in all timescales across the electromagnetic spectrum. While there is abundant literature characterizing the short-term flares from different blazars, comparatively little work has been carried out to study the long-term variability. We aim to study the long-term temporal and spectral variability in the radiation from Mkn 421 during 2009−2015. Methods. We quantify the variability and lognormality from the radio to very high-energy (VHE) bands, and compute the correlations between various wavebands using the z-transformed discrete correlation function. We construct the spectral energy distribution (SED) contemporaneous with HAGAR observation seasons and fit this SED with a one-zone synchrotron self-Compton model to study the spectral variability. Results. The flux is found to be highly variable across all timescales. The variability is energy dependant and is maximum in the X-ray and VHE bands. A strong correlation is found between the Fermi-LAT (gamma) and radio bands and between Fermi-LAT and optical, but no correlation is found between Fermi-LAT and X-ray. Lognormality in the flux distribution is clearly detected. This is the third blazar, following BL Lac and PKS 2155+304 to show this behaviour. The SED can be well fit by a one-zone SSC model, and variations in the flux states can be attributed mainly to changes in the particle distribution. A strong correlation is seen between the break energy γ b of the particle spectrum and the total bolometric luminosity.