A Monte Carlo (MC) simulation study of cosmic ray (CR) extensive air showers (EAS) has been carried out in the energy regime of the KASCADE experiment. From the characteristics of lateral distributions of electrons and muons of simulated EAS, some important EAS observables are extracted by a novel approach, and their CR mass-sensitivity is demonstrated. The study takes into account the issue of the experimental lateral density profiles of EAS electrons and muons after introducing the notion of the local age and segmented slope parameters, aimed to extract information on CR mass composition from observed data. The estimated lateral shower age and slope from the analysis of the KASCADE data (KCDC) agrees with the idea of a gradual change of CR mass composition from light to heavy around the knee.
Distinguishing $γ$-ray and hadron initiated extensive air showers (EAS) based on lateral distribution of electrons has been studied by detailed Monte Carlo (MC) simulations. The possibility of using the local age parameter (LAP) of EAS for the gamma-hadron separation has been explored. It is found that separating $γ$-ray and hadron induced EAS on the basis of LAP can be useful for surface detector experiments those have no reliable muon measurement facilities.
We present of measurements of radio emission from EAS at the frequency 32 MHz performed in 2008-2012. Showers were selected by zenith and azimuth directions, sampled by energy. A mean lateral distribution function was fitted to the data each interval. The paper presents unied approximation formula for all three energy intervals of lateral distribution, using connection between equation (1) and (2) coefficients with energy and geomagnetic angle. Here we analyze the connection between the shape of lateral distribution and the depth of the maximum shower development Xmax too.
The lateral density distributions (LDD) of inclined cosmic ray air shower are asymmetric and the corresponding iso-density contours are of increasing eccentric ellipses with zenith angles of different showers. The polar asymmetry of the iso-density contours introduces a significant shift of the EAS core, which is quantitatively expressed as a gap length (GL) parameter between the EAS core and the center of the modified density pattern consisting of several equi-density ellipses. The LDD of EAS particles is usually approximated by a particular type of lateral density function (LDF) which is gen…
The lateral distribution function of high energy muons in EAS around the knee ($5.9\le \lg N_e \le 7.1$) has been measured for near vertical showers ($θ\le 20^{\circ}$, effective muon threshold energy is 230 GeV). The measurements have been performed at the Baksan Underground Scintillation Telescope (BUST). The electromagnetic component is measured by the "Andyrchy" EAS array, located above the BUST. The knee in EAS size spectrum is found to be at $\lg N_e \approx 6.3$. The experimental results are compared with Monte Carlo simulations.
Analyzing simulated extensive air shower (EAS) events generated with the Monte Carlo code CORSIKA, this paper critically studies the characteristics of lateral distribution of electrons in EAS around the knee energy region of the energy spectrum of primary cosmic rays. The study takes into account the issue of lateral shower age parameter as indicator of the stage of development of showers in the atmosphere. The correlation of lateral shower age parameter with other EAS observables is examined, using simulated data in the context of its possible use in a multi-parameter study of EAS, with a vi…
Analyzing simulated EAS events generated with the CORSIKA code, the characteristics of lateral distribution of electrons in EAS around the knee energy region of the primary energy spectrum have been studied and compared with experimental observations. The differences between the EGS4 and the NKG output of CORSIKA in respect to electron radial density distribution have been investigated. The relation between lateral and longitudinal age parameters has been studied after introducing the notion of the local age parameter that reflects the profile of the lateral distribution of electrons in EAS. T…
The paper describes lateral density distributions of electrons and muons of cosmic ray extensive air showers (EAS) in the energy regime of the KASCADE experiment. Potential EAS observables are extracted while some suitable lateral distribution functions are introduced to describe these lateral density distributions of simulated/observed cosmic ray showers. Mass-sensitivity of these parameters are demonstrated particularly for the KASCADE electron and muon distributions data. Our studies indicate that the KASCADE data favours an idea of gradual change of cosmic ray mass composition from lighter…
A novel type of EAS array (PRISMA-32) has been constructed on the base of NEVOD-DECOR experiment (MEPhI,Moscow) and is now taking data. It consists of 32 specially designed scintillator en-detectors able to measure two main EAS components: hadrons (n) and electrons (e). First results on thermal neutron lateral as well as temporal distributions are presented. Obtained exponential neutron lateral distributions are consistent with that expected for normal hadron production with exponential transverse momentum distribution. As there are no other experimental data on thermal neutron distributions a…
In this research, the simulation of lateral distribution function (LDF) of Cherenkov radiation was performed using CORSIKA software for two hadronic models QGSJET and GHEISHA. This simulation was performed for several elementary particles such as protons, iron nuclei, electrons and gamma quanta, in the range of energies 1-20 PeV for three zenith angles 0, 20 and 30 degrees. A parameterization of Cherenkov light LDF was performed for that simulated curves using Lorentzian function. The comparison between the obtained results for LDF of Cherenkov light with that measured with Yakutsk EAS array g…
In this work, the effects of the extensive air showers (EAS) were described by estimating the lateral distribution function (LDF) at very high energies of various cosmic ray particles. LDF was simulated for charged particles such as the electron and positron pair production, gamma, muons and all charged particles at very high energies 10^16, 10^18 and 10^19 eV. The simulation was performed using air shower simulator system (AIRES) version 2.6.0. The effect of primary particles, energies, thinning energy and zenith angle on the charged LDF particles produced in the EAS was taken into account. T…
Cherenkov light lateral distribution function (CLLDF) in Extensive Air Showers (EAS) for different primary particles (e-, n , p, F, K and Fe) was simulated using CORSIKA code for conditions and configurations of Yakutsk EAS array with the fixed primary energy 3 PeV around the knee region at different zenith angles. Basing on the results of CLLDF numerical simulation, sets of approximated functions are reconstructed for different primary particles as a function of the zenith angle. A comparison of the parameterized CLLDF with that simulated with Yakutsk EAS array is verified. The parameterized …
Extensive air showers (EAS) are a cascade of electromagnetic radiation and ionized particles that produced in the atmosphere through the interaction of a primary cosmic ray with the atom of nucleus in the air producing a huge amount of secondary particles such as X-ray, electrons, neutrons, muons, alpha particles, etc. In this work, EAS effects were demonstrated by estimating the lateral distribution function (LDF) at ultrahigh energies of the various cosmic ray particles. The LDF of charged particles such as electron and positron pair production, gamma and muons particles was simulated at ult…
New developments in detector technology allow for a realistic cost of large area surface detectors for cosmic ray air showers, with some limitations on particle identification, energy resolutions, directional information and dynamic range. In this paper, we present a simulation study using CORSIKA to quantify the lateral profile of the muons at ground level, characterized by their energy spectrum and lateral spread, and combine it with the depth at shower maximum (X$_{max}$) of an EAS initiated by a primary at energies $10^{16}$ eV - $10^{19}$ eV. Using different primaries, we show that the co…
The simulation of Cherenkov photon's lateral density and arrival time distributions in Extensive Air Showers (EASs) was performed with the CORSIKA code in the energy range: 100 GeV to 100 TeV. On the basis of this simulation we obtained a set of approximating functions for the primary $γ$-ray photons, protons and iron nuclei incident at zenith angles from 0$^\circ$ to 40$^\circ$ over different altitudes of observation. Such a parameterisation is important for the primary particle identification, for the reconstruction of the shower observables and hence for a more efficient disentanglement of …
In this study, the necessity of the simulation study for exploring the interactions of ultra-high energy particles cosmic rays was examined. Different hadronic interaction models such as (SIBYLL, QGSJET, and EPOS) were simulated by using air showers simulation AIRES system (version 19.04.00). Also, the charged particle density of Extensive Air Showers (EAS) was calculated by estimating the lateral distribution function (LDF). Moreover, the LDF simulation of the two primary particles (proton and iron nuclei) was performed, taking into account their primary energies effect and the zenith angle o…
The simulation of the Cherenkov light lateral distribution function (LDF) in Extensive Air Showers (EAS) was perfomed with the CORSIKA code in the energy range 10^13-10^16 eV for configuration of the Tunka-25 EAS array. On the basis of this simulation we obtained sets of approximating functions for primary protons, iron nuclei and gamma-quanta for zenith angles Theta<=20. The comparison of the calculated Cherenkov light LDF with that measured with the Tunka-25 array has shown an opportunity of primary particle identification and definition of its energy around the "knee".
The simulation of Cherenkov light lateral distribution function (CLLDF) in Extensive Air Showers (EAS) was performed by using the Monte Carlo CORSIKA code for configurations of Tunka-133 EAS Cherenkov array. This simulation was carried out for different primary particles (e+, e-, p, O, Ar and Fe) around the knee region with the energy 3.10^15 eV at different zenith angles. By depending on the Breit-Wigner function a parameterization of CLLDF was reconstructed on the basis of this simulation as a function of the zenith angle. The parameterized CLLDF was verified for four fixed zenith angles in …
Cherenkov light lateral distribution function (CLLDF) simulation was fulfilled using CORSIKA code for configurations of Tunka EAS array of different zenith angles. The parameterization of the CLLDF was carried out as a function of the distance from the shower core in extensive air showers (EAS) and zenith angle on the basis of the CORSIKA simulation of primary proton around the knee region with the energy 3.10^15 eV at different zenith angles. The parameterized CLLDF is verified in comparison with the simulation that performed using CORSIKA code for two zenith angles.
We explore the feasibility of estimating primary cosmic ray composition at ultra high energies from the study of lateral age parameter of Extensive Air Showers (EAS) at ground level. Using different types of lateral distribution functions, we fit the particle density of simulated EAS to find the lateral age parameter. We discuss the chemical composition calculating the merit factor for each parameter distribution. The analysis considers three different primary particles (proton, iron and gamma), four different zenith angles (0°, 15°, 30° and 45°) and three primary energies (10^{17.25} eV, 10^{…
The main interest of the present work is in analyzing the lateral distribution function (LDF) of Cherenkov radiation from particles that produced in Extensive Air Showers (EAS). The simulation of Cherenkov radiation LDF is fulfilled by utilizing the CORSIKA program at 1 PeV of the primary energy around the knee region for many primaries for vertical showers for Tunka-133 array conditions. Depending on the numerical simulation results of Cherenkov light LDF, sets of parameterized polynomial functions are resetted for several particles as a function of primary particle type. The comparison betwe…
The antenna array LOPES is set up at the location of the KASCADE-Grande extensive air shower experiment in Karlsruhe, Germany and aims to measure and investigate radio pulses from Extensive Air Showers. The coincident measurements allow us to reconstruct the electric field strength at observation level in dependence of general EAS parameters. In the present work, the lateral distribution of the radio signal in air showers is studied in detail. It is found that the lateral distributions of the electric field strengths in individual EAS can be described by an exponential function. For about 20% …
The ARGO-YBJ experiment, a full coverage extensive air shower (EAS) detector located at high altitude (4300 m a.s.l.) in Tibet, China, has smoothly taken data, with very high stability, since November 2007 to the beginning of 2013. The array consisted of a carpet of about 7000 m$^2$ Resistive Plate Chambers (RPCs) operated in streamer mode and equipped with both digital and analog readout, providing the measurement of particle densities up to few particles per cm$^2$. The unique detector features (full coverage, readout granularity, wide dynamic range, etc) and location (very high altitude) al…
We discuss the lateral distribution of charged particles in extensive air showers with energy above $10^{17}$ eV measured by surface scintillation detectors of Yakutsk EAS array. The analysis covers the data obtained during the period from 1977 to 2013. Experimental values are compared to theoretical predictions obtained with the use of CORSIKA code within frameworks of different hadron interaction models. The best agreement between theory and experiment is observed for QGSJet01 and QGSJet-II-04 models. A change in the cosmic ray mass composition towards proton is observed in the energy range …
The lateral distribution of muons with threshold energy e ~ 1*sec(theta) GeV have been studied in showers with energy E>=10^17 eV. The data considered in the analysis have been collected from November 2011 to June 2013. Experimental values are compared to predictions obtained with the use of CORSIKA code within the framework of various hadron interaction models. The best agreement between experiment and theory is observed for QGSJETII-04 model. At E~10^17 eV it complies to a mixed cosmic ray composition with the mean atomic number <lnA>~3.0+/-0.5. At E>= 4*10^17 eV the composition varies aroun…
We explore the feasibility of estimating primary cosmic ray composition at high energies from the study of two parameters of Extensive Air Showers (EAS) at ground and underground level with Monte Carlo simulations using the new EPOS and QGSJETII hadronic models tuned with LHC data. Namely, the slope and density at a given distance of the muon lateral distribution function are analysed in this work. The power to discriminate primary masses is quantified in terms of merit factor for each parameter. The analysis considers three different primary particles (proton, iron and gamma), four different …
The paper is devoted to the results of the EAS neutron component investigations by means of the PRISMA-32 array. The array consists of 32 en-detectors and enables to record delayed thermal neutrons accompanying showers. For registration of thermal neutrons, the scintillator based on $^{6}Li$ isotope as a target is used in the detectors. Some results of the processing of data accumulated over a long period of time are presented: the lateral distribution function of neutrons in EAS and preliminary results on EAS neutron multiplicity spectrum and distribution of showers in e/n ratio.
We have studied how the energy spectrum of muons at production affects some of the most common measurements related to muons in extensive air shower studies, namely, the number of muons at the ground, the slope of the lateral distribution of muons, the apparent muon production depth, and the arrival time delay of muons at ground. We found that by changing the energy spectrum by an amount consistent with the difference between current models (namely EPOS-LHC and QGSjet-II.04), the muon surface density at ground increases $5\%$ at $20^\circ$ zenith angle and $17\%$ at $60^\circ$ zenith angle. Th…
In this paper we propose a 'knee-like' approximation of the lateral distribution of the Cherenkov light from extensive air showers in the energy range 30-3000 TeV and study a possibility of its practical application in high energy ground-based gamma-ray astronomy experiments (in particular, in TAIGA-HiSCORE). The approximation has a very good accuracy for individual showers and can be easily simplified for practical application in the HiSCORE wide angle timing array in the condition of a limited number of triggered stations.
An ultra-high-energy cosmic ray (UHECR) colliding with the Earth's atmosphere gives rise to an Extensive Air Shower (EAS). Due to different charge separation mechanisms within the thin shower front coherent electromagnetic radiation will be emitted within the radio frequency range. A small deviation of the index of refraction from unity will give rise to Cherenkov radiation up to distances of 100 meters from the shower core and therefore has to be included in a complete description of the radio emission from an EAS. Interference between the different radiation mechanisms, in combination with d…
By means of Monte Carlo simulations of extensive air showers (EAS), we have performed a comprehensive study of the shower to shower fluctuations affecting the longitudinal and lateral development of EAS. We split the fluctuations into physical fluctuations and those induced by the thinning procedure customarily applied to simulate showers at EeV energies and above. We study the influence of thinning on the calculation of the shower to shower fluctuations in the simulations. For thinning levels larger than 10^(-5) - 10^(-6), the determination of the shower to shower fluctuations is hampered by …
The Simulation of Cherenkov light lateral distribution function (LDF) from particles of Extensive Air Showers (EAS) with ultra high energy cosmic rays (E>=10^16 eV) was simulated for primary protons by the computer code CORSIKA. The parameterization, that constructed on the basis of this simulation have allowed us to reconstruct the events, that is, to reconstruct the type and energy of the particle that generated EAS from signal amplitudes of Cherenkov light registered with the Tunka-25 facility. The extrapolation of the Cherenkov light LDF approximation at the energy range (10^16-2.10^18 eV)…
The evolution of the muon content of very high energy air showers (EAS) in the atmosphere is investigated with data of the KASCADE-Grande observatory. For this purpose, the muon attenuation length in the atmosphere is obtained to $Λ_μ= 1256 \, \pm 85 \, ^{+229}_{-232}(\mbox{syst})\, \mbox{g/cm}^2$ from the experimental data for shower energies between $10^{16.3}$ and $10^{17.0} \, \mbox{eV}$. Comparison of this quantity with predictions of the high-energy hadronic interaction models QGSJET-II-02, SIBYLL 2.1, QGSJET-II-04 and EPOS-LHC reveals that the attenuation of the muon content of measured…
We present a detailed modeling and computation methodology to determine the optical Cherenkov signals produced by upward-moving extensive air showers (EASs) induced by $τ$-leptons and muons, sourced from the interaction of high-energy astrophysical neutrinos interacting in the Earth. Following and extending the physics modeling and Cherenkov signal simulations performed in arxiv:1902.11287, this scheme encompasses a new, state-of-the-art computation of the muon neutrino propagation inside the Earth and the contribution to the $τ$-lepton muon decay channel. The modeling takes into account all p…
A simple 'knee-like' approximation of the Lateral Distribution Function (LDF) of Cherenkov light emitted by EAS (extensive air showers) in the atmosphere is proposed for solving various tasks of data analysis in HiSCORE and other wide angle ground-based experiments designed to detect gamma rays and cosmic rays with the energy above tens of TeV. Simulation-based parametric analysis of individual LDF curves revealed that on the radial distance 20-500 m the 5-parameter 'knee-like' approximation fits individual LDFs as well as the mean LDF with a very good accuracy. In this paper we demonstrate th…
The KASCADE-Grande detector is an air-shower array devoted to the study of primary cosmic rays with very high-energies (E = 10^{16} - 10^{18} eV). The instrument is composed of different particle detector systems suitable for the detailed study of the properties of Extensive Air Showers (EAS) developed by cosmic rays in the atmosphere. Among the EAS observables studied with the detector, the charged number of particles, the muon content (at different energy thresholds), and the number of electrons are found. By comparing the measurements of these air-shower parameters with the expectations fro…
The reconstruction of cosmic-ray-induced extensive air showers with a non-imaging Cherenkov detector array requires knowledge of the Cherenkov yield of any given air shower for a given set of shower parameters. Although air showers develop in a stochastic cascade, certain characteristics of the particles in the shower have been shown to come from universal probability distributions, a property known as shower universality. Both the energy and the angular distributions of charged particles within a shower have been parameterized. One can use these distributions to calculate the Cherenkov photon…
Codalema is one of the experiments devoted to the detection of ultra high energy cosmic rays by the radio method. The main objective is to study the features of the radio signal induced by the development in the atmosphere of extensive air showers (EAS) generated by cosmic rays in the energy range of 10 PeV-1 EeV . After a brief presentation of the detector features, the main results obtained are reported (emission mechanism, lateral distribution of the electric field, energy calibration, etc.). The first studies of the radio wave front curvature are discussed as new preliminary results.
We show that the energy-weighted angular (zenith, azimuth) distribution of extensive air showers (EAS), produced by Ultra High Energy (UHE) cosmic rays at the Pierre Auger Observatory (PAO), has a thrust axis almost transverse to the interplanetary magnetic field (IMF), with a thrust value $Tp \geq 0.64$ ( where 1.0 means a perfect alignment and 0.5 isotropy). This behavior strongly suggests an effect of the IMF on the charged shower particles, producing additional lateral scattering. We discuss the weakening of the Earth's magnetic field during geomagnetic storms (30\% of observational time) …
The geomagnetic field causes not only the East-West effect on the primary cosmic rays but also affects the trajectories of the secondary charged particles in the shower, causing their lateral distribution to be stretched along certain directions. Thus both the density of the secondaries near the shower axis and the trigger efficiency of a detector array decrease. The effect depends on the age and on the direction of the showers, thus involving the measured azimuthal distribution. Here the non-uniformity of the azimuthal distribution of the reconstructed events in the ARGO-YBJ experiment is dee…
Ultrahigh-energy cosmic rays (UHECRs) arrive at Earth from the most energetic astrophysical accelerators in the universe. They collide with atoms in the upper atmosphere with energies about ten times higher than any man-made accelerator, and produce gigantic cascades of secondary particles, called extensive air showers (EAS). Extensive air showers can be detected spreading particle detectors over a large area to record the interactions of secondary particles. The Pierre Auger Observatory has been designed to investigate the origin and nature of UHECRs using the combination of information from …
