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Title: Azimuthal asymmetry in the risetime of the surface detector signals of the Pierre Auger Observatory

Journal Article · · Physical Review D
 [1]
  1. Univ. Siegen (Germany). et al.

The azimuthal asymmetry in the risetime of signals in Auger surface detector stations is a source of information on shower development. The azimuthal asymmetry is due to a combination of the longitudinal evolution of the shower and geometrical effects related to the angles of incidence of the particles into the detectors. The magnitude of the effect depends upon the zenith angle and state of development of the shower and thus provides a novel observable, (secθ)max, sensitive to the mass composition of cosmic rays above 3 x 1018 eV. By comparing measurements with predictions from shower simulations, we find for both of our adopted models of hadronic physics (QGSJETII-04 and EPOS-LHC) an indication that the mean cosmic-ray mass increases slowly with energy, as has been inferred from other studies. However, the mass estimates are dependent on the shower model and on the range of distance from the shower core selected. Furthermore, the method has uncovered further deficiencies in our understanding of shower modelling that must be resolved before the mass composition can be inferred from (secθ)max.

Research Organization:
Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory (FNAL), Batavia, IL (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE Office of Science (SC), High Energy Physics (HEP)
Contributing Organization:
Pierre Auger Collaboration
Grant/Contract Number:
AC02-07CH11359; FR02-04ER41300; FG02-99ER41107; SC0011689
OSTI ID:
1247529
Alternate ID(s):
OSTI ID: 1246180
Report Number(s):
FERMILAB-PUB-16-094-AD-AE-CD-TD; arXiv:1604.00978; PRVDAQ; 1441175
Journal Information:
Physical Review D, Vol. 93, Issue 7; ISSN 2470-0010
Publisher:
American Physical Society (APS)Copyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Citation Metrics:
Cited by: 20 works
Citation information provided by
Web of Science

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The Giant Radio Array for Neutrino Detection (GRAND): Science and design journal August 2019
The Giant Radio Array for Neutrino Detection (GRAND): Science and Design text January 2018


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