Title: Measurement of the radiation energy in the radio signal of extensive air showers as a universal estimator of cosmic-ray energy

Abstract

We measure the energy emitted by extensive air showers in the form of radio emission in the frequency range from 30 to 80 MHz. Exploiting the accurate energy scale of the Pierre Auger Observatory, we obtain a radiation energy of 15.8 ± 0.7 (stat) ± 6.7 (sys) MeV for cosmic rays with an energy of 1 EeV arriving perpendicularly to a geomagnetic field of 0.24 G, scaling quadratically with the cosmic-ray energy. A comparison with predictions from state-of-the-art first-principle calculations shows agreement with our measurement. The radiation energy provides direct access to the calorimetric energy in the electromagnetic cascade of extensive air showers. Comparison with our result thus allows the direct calibration of any cosmic-ray radio detector against the well-established energy scale of the Pierre Auger Observatory.

Authors:

Aab, Alexander ^[1]

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+ Show Author Affiliations

1. Univ. Siegen, Siegen (Germany). et al.

Publication Date:

Tue Jun 14 00:00:00 EDT 2016

Research Org.:

Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory (FNAL), Batavia, IL (United States)

Sponsoring Org.:

USDOE Office of Science (SC), High Energy Physics (HEP)

Contributing Org.:

Pierre Auger Collaboration

OSTI Identifier:

1258286

Alternate Identifier(s):

OSTI ID: 1257015

Report Number(s):

arXiv:1605.02564; FERMILAB-PUB-16-169-AD-AE-CD-TD
Journal ID: ISSN 0031-9007; PRLTAO; 1456765

Grant/Contract Number:  

AC02-07CH11359; FR02-04ER41300; FG02-99ER41107; SC0011689

Resource Type:

Accepted Manuscript

Journal Name:

Physical Review Letters

Additional Journal Information:

Journal Volume: 116; Journal Issue: 24; Journal ID: ISSN 0031-9007

Publisher:

American Physical Society (APS)

Country of Publication:

United States

Language:

English

Subject:

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS; 47 OTHER INSTRUMENTATION