Measurement of the muon content in air showers at the Pierre Auger Observatory
The muon content of extensive air showers produced by ultra-high energy cosmic rays is an observable sensitive to the composition of primary particles and to the properties of hadronic interactions governing the evolution of air-shower cascades. We present different methods for estimation of the num...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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EDP Sciences
2016-01-01
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| Series: | EPJ Web of Conferences |
| Online Access: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1051/epjconf/201612004004 |
| _version_ | 1819132586054647808 |
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| author | Veberič Darko |
| author_facet | Veberič Darko |
| author_sort | Veberič Darko |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The muon content of extensive air showers produced by ultra-high energy cosmic rays is an observable sensitive to the composition of primary particles and to the properties of hadronic interactions governing the evolution of air-shower cascades. We present different methods for estimation of the number of muons at the ground and the muon production depth. These methods use measurements of the longitudinal, lateral, and temporal distribution of particles in air showers recorded by the detectors of the Pierre Auger Observatory. The results, obtained at about 140 TeV center-of-mass energy for proton primaries, are compared to the predictions of LHC-tuned hadronic-interaction models used in simulations with different primary masses. The models exhibit a deficitin the predicted muon content. The combination of these results with other independent mass composition analyses, such as those involving the depth of shower maximum observablemax, provide additional constraints on hadronic-interaction models for energies beyond the reach of the LHC. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-22T09:33:45Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-221b55194e4c492f8af5fa2acaf2cda8 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2100-014X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-22T09:33:45Z |
| publishDate | 2016-01-01 |
| publisher | EDP Sciences |
| record_format | Article |
| series | EPJ Web of Conferences |
| spelling | doaj.art-221b55194e4c492f8af5fa2acaf2cda82022-12-21T18:30:52ZengEDP SciencesEPJ Web of Conferences2100-014X2016-01-011200400410.1051/epjconf/201612004004epjconf_ismd2016_04004Measurement of the muon content in air showers at the Pierre Auger ObservatoryVeberič Darko0Institute of Nuclear Physics, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT)The muon content of extensive air showers produced by ultra-high energy cosmic rays is an observable sensitive to the composition of primary particles and to the properties of hadronic interactions governing the evolution of air-shower cascades. We present different methods for estimation of the number of muons at the ground and the muon production depth. These methods use measurements of the longitudinal, lateral, and temporal distribution of particles in air showers recorded by the detectors of the Pierre Auger Observatory. The results, obtained at about 140 TeV center-of-mass energy for proton primaries, are compared to the predictions of LHC-tuned hadronic-interaction models used in simulations with different primary masses. The models exhibit a deficitin the predicted muon content. The combination of these results with other independent mass composition analyses, such as those involving the depth of shower maximum observablemax, provide additional constraints on hadronic-interaction models for energies beyond the reach of the LHC.http://dx.doi.org/10.1051/epjconf/201612004004 |
| spellingShingle | Veberič Darko Measurement of the muon content in air showers at the Pierre Auger Observatory EPJ Web of Conferences |
| title | Measurement of the muon content in air showers at the Pierre Auger Observatory |
| title_full | Measurement of the muon content in air showers at the Pierre Auger Observatory |
| title_fullStr | Measurement of the muon content in air showers at the Pierre Auger Observatory |
| title_full_unstemmed | Measurement of the muon content in air showers at the Pierre Auger Observatory |
| title_short | Measurement of the muon content in air showers at the Pierre Auger Observatory |
| title_sort | measurement of the muon content in air showers at the pierre auger observatory |
| url | http://dx.doi.org/10.1051/epjconf/201612004004 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT vebericdarko measurementofthemuoncontentinairshowersatthepierreaugerobservatory |