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Title: Measurement of the average shape of longitudinal profiles of cosmic-ray air showers at the Pierre Auger Observatory

Journal Article · · Journal of Cosmology and Astroparticle Physics
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The profile of the longitudinal development of showers produced by ultra-high energy cosmic rays carries information related to the interaction properties of the primary particles with atmospheric nuclei. In this work, we present the first measurement of the average shower profile in traversed atmospheric depth at the Pierre Auger Observatory. The shapes of profiles are well reproduced by the Gaisser-Hillas parametrization within the range studied, for E > 1017.8 eV . A detailed analysis of the systematic uncertainties is performed using ten years of data and a full detector simulation. The average shape is quantified using two variables related to the width and asymmetry of the profile, and the results are compared with predictions of hadronic interaction models for different primary particles.

Research Organization:
Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory (FNAL), Batavia, IL (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE Office of Science (SC), High Energy Physics (HEP)
Contributing Organization:
The Pierre Auger collaboration
Grant/Contract Number:
AC02-07CH11359
OSTI ID:
1495359
Report Number(s):
arXiv:1811.04660; FERMILAB-PUB-18-633; 1703212
Journal Information:
Journal of Cosmology and Astroparticle Physics, Vol. 2019, Issue 03; ISSN 1475-7516
Publisher:
Institute of Physics (IOP)Copyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Citation Metrics:
Cited by: 9 works
Citation information provided by
Web of Science

References (14)

The Pierre Auger Cosmic Ray Observatory journal July 2015
Description of atmospheric conditions at the Pierre Auger Observatory using the Global Data Assimilation System (GDAS) journal April 2012
Reconstruction of longitudinal profiles of ultra-high energy cosmic ray showers from fluorescence and Cherenkov light measurements
  • Unger, M.; Dawson, B. R.; Engel, R.
  • Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research Section A: Accelerators, Spectrometers, Detectors and Associated Equipment, Vol. 588, Issue 3 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nima.2008.01.100
journal April 2008
Precise measurement of the absolute fluorescence yield of the 337nm band in atmospheric gases journal February 2013
Mass composition and cross-section from the shape of cosmic ray shower longitudinal profiles journal January 2011
A parameterization of cosmic ray shower profiles based on shower width journal January 2010
A measurement of the average longitudinal development profile of cosmic ray air showers between 1017 and 1018 eV journal October 2001
The average longitudinal air shower profile: exploring the shape information journal August 2015
Depth of maximum of air-shower profiles at the Pierre Auger Observatory. I. Measurements at energies above 1 0 17.8    eV journal December 2014
A study of the effect of molecular and aerosol conditions in the atmosphere on air fluorescence measurements at the Pierre Auger Observatory journal March 2010
The Central Laser Facility at the Pierre Auger Observatory journal November 2006
Techniques for measuring aerosol attenuation using the Central Laser Facility at the Pierre Auger Observatory journal April 2013
Muon Production in Extended Air Shower Simulations journal October 2008
Monte Carlo treatment of hadronic interactions in enhanced Pomeron scheme: QGSJET-II model journal January 2011

Cited By (1)

Data-driven estimation of the invisible energy of cosmic ray showers with the Pierre Auger Observatory text January 2019

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Related Subjects

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS
cosmic rays detectors
ultra high energy cosmic rays