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 gave a good agreement within the distances of 100-1000 m from the shower axis.
Results obtained from an analysis of the energy spectrum of cosmic rays with energies in the region of $E_0 \ge 10^{17}$ eV over the period of continuous observations from 1974 to 2017 are presented. A refined expression for estimating the primary-particle energy is used for individual events. This expression is derived from calculations aimed at determining the responses of the ground-based and underground scintillation detectors of the Yakutsk array for studying extensive air showers (EAS) and performed within the QGSJET01, QGSJET-II-04, SIBYLL-2.1, and EPOS-LHC models by employing the CORSI…
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 …
Responses of surface and underground scintillation detectors of Yakutsk array are calculated for showers initiated by primary particles with energy E0>=1.0E17 eV within the frameworks of QGSJet01 QGSIIJet-II-04, SIBYLL-2.1 and EPOS-LHC hadron interaction models. A new estimation of E0 is obtained with the use of various methods. The resulting energy is lower compared to the obtained with earlier method by factor ~1.33.
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 …
Characteristics of the muon component in EAS are analyzed together with their fluctuations. The aim of this analysis -- a comparison of experimental data with computational results obtained within frameworks of various hadron interaction models for protons and iron nuclei and an estimation of cosmic ray mass composition in the ultra-high energy region.
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 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…
Some discrepancies have been reported between observed and simulated muon content of extensive air showers: the number of observed muons exceeded the expectations in HiRes-MIA, Yakutsk and Pierre Auger Observatory data. Here, we analyze the data of the Moscow State University Extensive Air Shower (EAS-MSU) array on E_mu>~10 GeV muons in showers caused by ~(10^17-10^18) eV primary particles and demonstrate that they agree with simulations (QGSJET-II-04 hadronic interaction model) once the primary composition inferred from the surface-detector data is assumed.
We consider the problem of night-time atmosphere monitoring at the locations of the Yakutsk EAS array and the TAIGA observatory for the annual October-April period of observations at these facilities. It is shown that the use of data from instruments aboard Terra, Aqua, Suomi-NPP and NOAA-20 satellites, received by the ground stations of the Altai State University, Russia, and processed to Level 2 (retrieval of geophysical parameters of the atmosphere), gives the possibility of the near-real-time monitoring observations of the cloud cover structure and the temperature profiles at night with a …
A spectrum of cosmic rays within energy range 10^15 - 3x10^17 eV was derived from the data of the small Cherenkov setup, which is a part of the Yakutsk complex EAS array. In this, work a new series of observation is covered. These observations lasted from 2000 till 2010 and resulted in increased number of registered events within interval 10^16 - 10^18 eV, which in turn made it possible to reproduce cosmic ray spectrum in this energy domain with better precision. A sign of a thin structure is observed in the shape of the spectrum. It could be related to the escape of heavy nuclei from our Gala…
The arrival directions of ultrahigh energy extensive air showers (EAS) by Yakutsk, AGASA and P. Auger data are considered. It is found that the arrival directions of EAS with a deficit muons by Yakutsk data are not isotropy. Majority of these EAS form doublets which have maximum at side anticenter of Galaxy. It is shown that some EAS by data of Yakutsk, AGASA, P.Auger correlate with pulsars. These pulsars are situated near Input and Output Local arm Galaxy Orion. The majority of these pulsars have a short period rotate around of their axes. The problem of cosmic ray origin is discussed.
Arrival directions of ultrahigh energy extensive air showers (EAS) by world arrays data are analyzed. It is shown that arrival directions of ultrahigh energy EAS by Yakutsk and P. Auger data are some correlated with pulsars of Local Arm Orion of Galaxy. It is found large amplitude of first harmony of Fourier row by data Yakutsk array. The problem of cosmic rays origin is discussed.
From the data on Cherenkov light from EASs collected over the period of more than 15 years, the spectrum of cosmic rays was obtained in the energy range 1.0E15-1.0E18 eV. This spectrum has two features: at ~3.0E15 eV (first knee) and at ~1.0E17 eV (second knee). The first knee is characterized by the indexes γ_1=2.7+/-0.03 and γ_2 = 3.12+/-0.03 and the second knee - by γ_1 = 2.92+/-0.03 and γ_2=3.24+/-0.04. In the second case the difference amounts to Δγ_23=0.32{\pm}0.03{\pm}0.05 which is less than the case of the first knee Δγ_12=0.42+/-0.03+/-0.05 (here dual errors represent statistics and s…
The arrival directions of ultrahigh energy extensive air showers (EAS) by Yakutsk, AGASA and P. Auger data are considered. It is found that the arrival directions of EAS in the Yakutsk and AGASA data are correlated with pulsars from the side Input, and in the P. Auger data are correlated with pulsars from the Output of the Local Arm of Orion. It is shown that the majority of these pulsars have a short rotation period around their axes, than expected by the pulsar catalogue.
Energy spectra of the most energetic hadrons in the core region of extensive air showers (EAS) were studied in dependence on the EAS energy $E_0$ in the hybrid experiment HADRON at the Tien Shan mountain cosmic ray station. For the first time by direct measurement it was found in this experiment that the slope of the power energy spectrum of EAS hadrons diminishes itself locally, and the average hadron energy, correspondingly, increases between the $E_0$ borders 3PeV and 20PeV. Such behavior agrees with threshold appearance in EAS, in the same energy range, of a long-flying penetrative compone…
The arrival directions of ultrahigh energy extensive air showers (EAS) by Yakutsk, AGASA, P. Auger array data are analyzed. For the first time, the maps of equal exposition of celestial sphere for the distribution of particles by AGASA and P. Auger arrays data have been constructed. The large-scale anisotropy of cosmic particles at E>4.1019 eV by Yakutsk, AGASA and P. Auger array data has been detected. The problem of cosmic particle origin is discussed.
The experimental gamma-families in which events called "halos" were detected using X-ray emulsion chambers (XRECs) of the PAMIR experiment are described. The halo nature is explained within the standard model of nuclear interactions. Based on events with halo, the fraction of p+He in primary cosmic rays (PCR) was estimated. It is shown that the PCR mass composition remains mixed in the range E0 = 1-100 PeV.
An analysis of arrival directions of extensive air showers generated by cosmic rays in the PeV energy range and registered with the EAS MSU and EAS-1000 Prototype arrays reveals a considerable number of regions of excessive flux of cosmic rays. We present results of comparative analysis of regions found in the two data sets, estimate probabilities of their appearance, and discuss correlation of their locations with coordinates of possible astrophysical sources of PeV cosmic rays.
Two EAS arrays during a day have recorded 3 particles with energies above 30 EeV arriving from the same sky region. Two events were registered by the Yakutsk array and one - by the Telescope Array. Two Yakutsk events were estimated to be same energy and the Telescope Array shower's energy was almost 2 times higher. This indicates the same magnetic rigidity of all three particles, if the charge differs by a factor of 2. The relatively short sequence of all three events and their "monochromaticity" in rigidity can be due to the magnetic separation of particles in the acceleration process and pro…
Archival EAS-MSU data are searched for anomalous muonless events which may be caused by primary gamma rays with energies between 10^15 eV and 10^18 eV. We consider a refined sample of high-quality data and confirm the previously reported detection of a non-zero gamma-ray flux at ~5x10^16 eV with a similar flux value but at somewhat lower statistical significance, corresponding to the depletion of the sample. We present upper limits on the flux below and above these energies, including the first constraints in the range (10^17-10^18) eV never studied by any other experiment.
The characteristics of extensive air showers that are sensitive to the mass composition of primary cosmic radiation are recorded in the EAS core. These characteristics include the parameters of the phenomenon of "halo". Studies have shown that the bulk of the events recorded in XRECs are produced by protons and He nuclei, which allows the estimation of the fraction of light nuclei in PCR. The events under analysis were obtained in the XREC PAMIR experiment, and the properties of these events were studied at distances extending up to about 10 cm from the EAS axis with a resolution of approximat…
An analysis of arrival directions of extensive air showers (EAS) registered with the EAS MSU and EAS-1000 prototype arrays has revealed a region of excessive flux of PeV cosmic rays in the direction toward pulsars PSR J1840+5640 and LAT PSR J1836+5925 at significance level up to 4.5sigma. The first of the pulsars was discovered almost 30 years ago and is a well-studied old radio pulsar located at the distance of 1.7pc from the Solar system. The second pulsar belongs to a new type of pulsars, discovered by the space gamma-ray observatory Fermi, pulsations of which are not observed in optical an…
Three regions of excessive flux of cosmic rays with energies of the order of PeV are found in the experimental data of the EAS MSU array at a confidence level greater than 4σ. For two of them, there are similar regions in the experimental data of the EAS-1000 Prototype array. One of the interesting features of the regions is the absence of supernova remnants in their vicinities, traditionally considered as the main sources of Galactic cosmic rays, but the presence of isolated pulsars, some of which are able to accelerate heavy nuclei up to energies close to PeV. In our opinion, this favors the…
The energy spectrum of the primary cosmic radiation in the energy range 1 - 100 PeV and the extensive air shower (EAS) characteristics obtained on the basis of the expanded data bank of the GAMMA experiment (Mt. Aragats, Armenia) are presented. With increased statistics we confirm our previous results on the energy spectrum. The spectral index above the knee is about -3.1, but at energies beyond 20 PeV a flattening of the spectrum is observed. The existence of the 'bump' at about 70 PeV is confirmed with a significance of more than 4σ. In the energy range of 10 - 100 PeV the shower age becomes…
We put together the experimental results on muon component of extensive air showers (EAS) which were gained with various techniques at the detector complex of the Tien Shan mountain station. According to this comparison, the problem of the EAS muon content in the range of primary cosmic ray energies (1-100)PeV seems to be more complicated than it was usually supposed. Generally, from the models of nuclear interaction it follows that the EAS which have produced gamma-hadron families in the Tien Shan X-ray emulsion chamber did preferably originate from interaction of the light cosmic ray nuclei,…
The change in the fluxes of the lightest and heaviest nuclei in the mass composition of primary cosmic radiation in the energy range of E0 = 1-100 PeV is analyzed on the basis of data from the KASCADE-Grande experiment. This analysis is performed by means of the min-max age (Smin-max) method for extensive air showers (EAS) that is proposed in the present article. This method makes it possible to estimate the exponents of the spectra for the lightest and heaviest nuclei in the mass composition of primary cosmic radiation and to study irregularities in these spectra at energies E0 in the range u…
Several energy spectra of cosmic rays with energies E_0 \geq 10^17 eV measured at the Yakutsk EAS, AGASA, Haverah Park, HiRes, Auger, and SUGAR arrays are considered. It is shown that the fairly good mutual agreement of the spectrum shapes can be achieved if the energy of each spectrum is multiplied by a factor K specific for each spectrum. These factors exhibit a pronounced dependence on the latitude of the above-mentioned arrays.
A search for anisotropy at different scales in the arrival directions of cosmic rays with energies above 1 PeV is performed with data of the Tunka-133 array. A number of regions with angular sizes up to approximately 30 degrees that deviate from the uniform background with a statistical significance greater than three standard deviations are found using the shuffling technique both in the complete data set and its subsets in different energy ranges. Some regions with an excess of cosmic rays correlate with the distribution of possible cosmic ray sources. A comparison of the results with a simi…
We present a relationship, E_ν^{max} = m_ν M_{Planck}/M_{weak}, among the highest observed neutrino energy (~PeV) and the neutrino mass, the weak scale, and the Planck energy. We then discuss some tests of this relationship, and present some theoretical constructs which motivate the relationship. It is possible that all massive particles are subject to maximum energies given by similar relationships, although only the neutrino seems able to offer interesting phenomenology. We discuss implications which include no neutrino detections at energies greater than PeV, and changes in expectations for…
The SPHERE-2 balloon-borne detector designed for extensive air shower (EAS) observations using EAS optical Vavilov-Cherenkov radiation (``Cherenkov light''), reflected from the snow-covered surface of Lake Baikal is described. We briefly discuss the concept behind the reflected Cherenkov light method, characterize the conditions at the experimental site and overview the construction of the tethered balloon used to lift the SPHERE-2 telescope above the surface. This paper is mainly dedicated to a detailed technical description of the detector, including its optical system, sensitive elements, e…
The very high energy Galactic $γ$-ray sky is partially opaque in the ($0.1-10$) PeV energy range. In the light of the recently detected high energy neutrino flux by IceCube, a comparable very high energy $γ$-ray flux is expected in any scenario with a sizable Galactic contribution to the neutrino flux. Here we elaborate on the peculiar energy and anisotropy features imposed upon these very high energy $γ$-rays by the absorption on the cosmic microwave background photons and Galactic interstellar light. As a notable application of our considerations, we study the prospects of probing the PeV-sc…
We analyze the scenario where the IceCube high energy neutrino events are explained in terms of an extraterrestrial flux due to two different components: a contribution coming from know astrophysical sources for energies up to few hundreds TeV and a top-down contribution originated by the decay of heavy dark matter particles with a mass of few PeV. Contrary to previous approaches, we consider a leptophilic three-body decay that dominates at PeV energies due to the absence of quarks in the final state. We find that the theoretical predictions of such a scenario are in a slightly better agreemen…
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…
The Moscow State University Extensive Air Shower (EAS-MSU) array studied high-energy cosmic rays with primary energies ~(1-500) PeV in the Northern hemisphere. The EAS-MSU data are being revisited following recently found indications to an excess of muonless showers, which may be interpreted as the first observation of cosmic gamma rays at ~100 PeV. In this paper, we present a complete Monte-Carlo model of the surface detector which results in a good agreement between data and simulations. The model allows us to study the performance of the detector and will be used to obtain physical results …
In the most works which deal with EAS the CR energy spectrum is deduced by means of the model defined dependence $E_0=a\cdot{N_e}^α$. An electron total number $N_e$ is evaluated by integration of the NKG-function f(r). This algorithm breaks down for young EAS with age parameter $s\sim0$. This work shows, that part of the young EAS becomes large in the range $N_e\geq10^7$, it cause to divergency of the $N_e$ integral for them and distorts the shape of EAS (CR) spectrum. A final analysis of the experimental data permits to conclude that EAS spectrum has local maximum at $N_e\sim10^9$, which resu…
Multi-messenger observations of transient astrophysical sources have the potential to characterize the highest energy accelerators and the most extreme environments in the Universe. Detection of neutrinos, in particular tau neutrinos generated by neutrino oscillations in transit from their sources to Earth, is possible for neutrino energies above 10 PeV using optical Cherenkov detectors imaging upward-moving extensive air showers (EAS). These EAS are produced from Earth interacting tau neutrinos leading to tau leptons that subsequently decay in the atmosphere. We compare neutrino detection sen…
We present new data on Cherenkov light observations obtained during the period 1994-2009, after a modernization of the Yakutsk EAS array. A complex analysis of $\xmax$ and its fluctuations $σ(\xmax)$ was performed over a wide energy range. With the new data, according to QGSJet II model, an estimation was made of the cosmic ray mass composition for $\E \sim 10^{17} - 3 \times 10^{19}$ eV. The result points towards a mixed composition with a large portion of heavy nuclei at $\E \sim 10^{17}$ eV and the dominance of light nuclei at $\E \sim 10^{19}$ eV. The analysis of $σ(\xmax)$ energy dependen…
The ground-based EAS array is usually operated with a high duty cycle (> 90%) and a large field of view (~2 sr), which can continuously monitor the sky. It is essential and irreplaceable to understand the gamma-ray emission mechanism and intrinsic physics progress of the variable source AGN. The EAS arrays, AS-r experiment (since 1990) and ARGO-YBJ experiment (since 2007), have continuously monitored the northern sky at energies above 3 TeV and 0.3 TeV, respectively. They have made substantial contributions for long-term monitoring of Mrk 421 and Mrk 501. In this paper, we will review the resu…
One of the main goals of investigations using present and future giant extensive air shower (EAS) arrays is the mass composition of ultra-high energy cosmic rays (UHECRs). A new approach to the problem is presented, combining analysis of arrival directions with the statistical test of the paired EAS samples. An idea of the method is to search for possible correlations of UHECR masses with their separate sources, for instance, if there are two sources in different areas of the celestial sphere injecting different nuclei, but fluxes are comparable so that arrival directions are isotropic, the ai…
Results of a blind search for localized regions of an excessive flux of cosmic rays in the energy range from 50 TeV to 20 PeV with the data of the FIAN KLARA-Chronotron experiment, the EAS MSU array and the Prototype of the EAS-1000 array are presented. A number of regions with a significant excess of the registered flux over an expected isotropic background are found. Some of the regions are present in at least two of the data sets considered.
Muon component of extensive air showers (EAS) initiated by cosmic ray particles carries information on the primary particle identity. We show that the muon content of EAS could be measured in a broad energy range from 10-100 TeV up to ultra-high-energy cosmic ray range using wide field-of-view imaging atmospheric Cherenkov telescopes observing strongly inclined or nearly horizontal EAS from the ground of from high altitude. Cherenkov emission from muons in such EAS forms a distinct component (halo or tail) of the EAS image in the telescope camera. We show that detection of the muon signal coul…
A compact device lifted over the ground surface might be used to observe optical radiation of extensive air showers (EAS). Here we consider spatial and temporal characteristics of Vavilov-Cherenkov radiation ("Cherenkov light") reflected from the snow surface of Lake Baikal, as registered by the SPHERE-2 detector. We perform detailed full direct Monte Carlo simulations of EAS development and present a dedicated highly modular code intended for detector response simulations. Detector response properties are illustrated by example of several model EAS events. The instrumental acceptance of the S…
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…
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…
Towards Baikal-Top: Feasibility study of an onshore detector system for the joint registration of EAS with Baikal-GVD
Budker Institute of Nuclear Physics SB RAS（布杰尔核物理研究所）；Novosibirsk State University（新西伯利亚国立大学）；Institute for Nuclear Research of the Russian Academy of Sciences（俄罗斯科学院核物理研究所）
