Radio measurements of the depth of air-shower maximum at the Pierre Auger Observatory

Journal Article · 07 January 2024 · Physical Review. D.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevD.109.022002 · OSTI ID:2279082

Abdul Halim, A.; Abreu, P.; Aglietta, M.; Allekotte, I.; Cheminant, K. Almeida; Almela, A.; Aloisio, R.; Alvarez-Muñiz, J.; Yebra, J. Ammerman; Anastasi, G. A.; Anchordoqui, L.; Andrada, B.; Andringa, S.; Anukriti,; Apollonio, L.; Aramo, C.; Ferreira, P. R. Araújo; Arnone, E.; Velázquez, J. C. Arteaga; Assis, P. ; Avila, G.; Avocone, E.; Bakalova, A.; Barbato, F.; Mocellin, A. Bartz; Bellido, J. A.; Berat, C.; Bertaina, M. E.; Bhatta, G.; Bianciotto, M.; Biermann, P. L.; Binet, V.; Bismark, K.; Bister, T.; Biteau, J.; Blazek, J.; Bleve, C.; Blümer, J.; Boháčová, M.; Boncioli, D.; Bonifazi, C.; Arbeletche, L. Bonneau; Borodai, N.; Brack, J.; Orchera, P. G. Brichetto; Briechle, F. L.; Bueno, A.; Buitink, S.; Buscemi, M.; Büsken, M.; Bwembya, A.; Caballero-Mora, K. S.; Cabana-Freire, S.; Caccianiga, L.; Caruso, R.; Castellina, A.; Catalani, F.; Cataldi, G.; Cazon, L.; Cerda, M.; Cermenati, A.; Chinellato, J. A.; Chudoba, J.; Chytka, L.; Clay, R. W.; Cerutti, A. C. Cobos; Colalillo, R.; Coleman, A.; Coluccia, M. R.; Conceição, R.; Condorelli, A.; Consolati, G.; Conte, M.; Convenga, F.; dos Santos, D. Correia; Costa, P. J.; Covault, C. E.; Cristinziani, M.; Sanchez, C. S. Cruz; Dasso, S.; Daumiller, K.; Dawson, B. R.; de Almeida, R. M.; de Jesús, J.; de Jong, S. J.; Neto, J. R. T. de Mello; De Mitri, I.; de Oliveira, J.; Franco, D. de Oliveira; de Palma, F.; de Souza, V.; de Errico, B. P. de Souza; De Vito, E.; Del Popolo, A.; Deligny, O.; Denner, N.; Deval, L.; di Matteo, A.; Dobre, M.; Dobrigkeit, C.; D’Olivo, J. C.; Mendes, L. M. Domingues; Dorosti, Q.; dos Anjos, J. C.; dos Anjos, R. C.; Ebr, J.; Ellwanger, F.; Emam, M.; Engel, R.; Epicoco, I.; Erdmann, M.; Etchegoyen, A.; Evoli, C.; Falcke, H.; Farmer, J.; Farrar, G.; Fauth, A. C.; Fazzini, N.; Feldbusch, F.; Fenu, F.; Fernandes, A.; Fick, B.; Figueira, J. M.; Filipčič, A.; Fitoussi, T.; Flaggs, B.; Fodran, T.; Fujii, T.; Fuster, A.; Galea, C.; Galelli, C.; García, B.; Gaudu, C.; Gemmeke, H.; Gesualdi, F.; Gherghel-Lascu, A.; Ghia, P. L.; Giaccari, U.; Glombitza, J.; Gobbi, F.; Gollan, F.; Golup, G.; Berisso, M. Gómez; Vitale, P. F. Gómez; Gongora, J. P.; González, J. M.; González, N.; Goos, I.; Góra, D.; Gorgi, A.; Gottowik, M.; Grubb, T. D.; Guarino, F.; Guedes, G. P.; Guido, E.; Gülzow, L.; Hahn, S.; Hamal, P.; Hampel, M. R.; Hansen, P.; Harari, D.; Harvey, V. M.; Haungs, A.; Hebbeker, T.; Hojvat, C.; Hörandel, J. R.; Horvath, P.; Hrabovský, M.; Huege, T.; Insolia, A.; Isar, P. G.; Janecek, P.; Jilek, V.; Johnsen, J. A.; Jurysek, J.; Kampert, K. -H.; Keilhauer, B.; Khakurdikar, A.; Covilakam, V. V. Kizakke; Klages, H. O.; Kleifges, M.; Knapp, F.; Köhler, J.; Kunka, N.; Lago, B. L.; Langner, N.; de Oliveira, M. A. Leigui; Lema-Capeans, Y.; Letessier-Selvon, A.; Lhenry-Yvon, I.; Lopes, L.; Lu, L.; Luce, Q.; Lundquist, J. P.; Payeras, A. Machado; Majercakova, M.; Mandat, D.; Manning, B. C.; Mantsch, P.; Marafico, S.; Mariani, F. M.; Mariazzi, A. G.; Mariş, I. C.; Marsella, G.; Martello, D.; Martinelli, S.; Bravo, O. Martínez; Martins, M. A.; Mathes, H. -J.; Matthews, J.; Matthiae, G.; Mayotte, E.; Mayotte, S.; Mazur, P. O.; Medina-Tanco, G.; Meinert, J.; Melo, D.; Menshikov, A.; Merx, C.; Michal, S.; Micheletti, M. I.; Miramonti, L.; Mollerach, S.; Montanet, F.; Morejon, L.; Morello, C.; Mulrey, K.; Mussa, R.; Namasaka, W. M.; Negi, S.; Nellen, L.; Nguyen, K.; Nicora, G.; Niechciol, M.; Nitz, D.; Nosek, D.; Novotny, V.; Nožka, L.; Nucita, A.; Núñez, L. A.; Oliveira, C.; Palatka, M.; Pallotta, J.; Panja, S.; Parente, G.; Paulsen, T.; Pawlowsky, J.; Pech, M.; Pȩkala, J.; Pelayo, R.; Pereira, L. A. S.; Martins, E. E. Pereira; Armand, J. Perez; Bertolli, C. Pérez; Perrone, L.; Petrera, S.; Petrucci, C.; Pierog, T.; Pimenta, M.; Platino, M.; Pont, B. ; Pothast, M.; Shahvar, M. Pourmohammad; Privitera, P.; Prouza, M.; Puyleart, A.; Querchfeld, S.; Rautenberg, J.; Ravignani, D.; Akim, J. V. Reginatto; Reininghaus, M.; Ridky, J.; Riehn, F.; Risse, M.; Rizi, V.; de Carvalho, W. Rodrigues; Rodriguez, E.; Rojo, J. Rodriguez; Roncoroni, M. J.; Rossoni, S.; Roth, M.; Roulet, E.; Rovero, A. C.; Ruehl, P.; Saftoiu, A.; Saharan, M.; Salamida, F.; Salazar, H.; Salina, G.; Gomez, J. D. Sanabria; Sánchez, F.; Santos, E. M.; Santos, E.; Sarazin, F.; Sarmento, R.; Sato, R.; Savina, P.; Schäfer, C. M.; Scherini, V.; Schieler, H.; Schimassek, M.; Schimp, M.; Schmidt, D.; Scholten, O.; Schoorlemmer, H.; Schovánek, P.; Schröder, F. G.; Schulte, J.; Schulz, T.; Sciutto, S. J.; Scornavacche, M.; Segreto, A.; Sehgal, S.; Shivashankara, S. U.; Sigl, G.; Silli, G.; Sima, O.; Simkova, K.; Simon, F.; Smau, R.; Šmída, R.; Sommers, P.; Soriano, J. F.; Squartini, R.; Stadelmaier, M.; Stanič, S.; Stasielak, J.; Stassi, P.; Strähnz, S.; Straub, M.; Suomijärvi, T.; Supanitsky, A. D.; Svozilikova, Z.; Szadkowski, Z.; Tairli, F.; Tapia, A.; Taricco, C.; Timmermans, C.; Tkachenko, O.; Tobiska, P.; Peixoto, C. J. Todero; Tomé, B.; Torrès, Z.; Travaini, A.; Travnicek, P.; Trimarelli, C.; Tueros, M.; Unger, M.; Vaclavek, L.; Vacula, M.; Galicia, J. F. Valdés; Valore, L.; Varela, E.; Vásquez-Ramírez, A.; Veberič, D.; Ventura, C.; Quispe, I. D. Vergara; Verzi, V.; Vicha, J.; Vink, J.; Vorobiov, S.; Watanabe, C.; Watson, A. A.; Weindl, A.; Wiencke, L.; Wilczyński, H.; Wittkowski, D.; Wundheiler, B.; Yue, B.; Yushkov, A.; Zapparrata, O.; Zas, E.; Zavrtanik, D.; Zavrtanik, M.

The (AERA), part of the Pierre Auger Observatory, is currently the largest array of radio antenna stations deployed for the detection of cosmic rays, spanning an area of $17{\mathrm{km}}^2$ with 153 radio stations. It detects the radio emission of extensive air showers produced by cosmic rays in the 30–80 MHz band. Here, we report the AERA measurements of the ( $X_{\max }$ ), a probe for mass composition, at cosmic-ray energies between ${10}^{17.5}$ and ${10}^{18.8}\mathrm{eV}$ , which show agreement with earlier measurements with the fluorescence technique at the Pierre Auger Observatory. We show advancements in the method for radio $X_{\max }$ reconstruction by comparison to dedicated sets of / air-shower simulations, including steps of reconstruction-bias identification and correction, which is of particular importance for irregular or sparse radio arrays. Using the largest set of radio air-shower measurements to date, we show the radio $X_{\max }$ resolution as a function of energy, reaching a resolution better than $15\mathrm{g}{\mathrm{cm}}^{-2}$ at the highest energies, demonstrating that radio $X_{\max }$ measurements are competitive with the established high-precision fluorescence technique. In addition, we developed a procedure for performing an extensive data-driven study of systematic uncertainties, including the effects of acceptance bias, reconstruction bias, and the investigation of possible residual biases. These results have been cross-checked with air showers measured independently with both the radio and fluorescence techniques, a setup unique to the Pierre Auger Observatory. Published by the American Physical Society 2024

• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• Grant/Contract Number: AC02-07CH11359; FG02-99ER41107; SC0011689
• OSTI ID: 2279082
• Alternate ID(s): OSTI ID: 2349019
• Journal Information: Physical Review. D., Journal Name: Physical Review. D. Journal Issue: 2 Vol. 109; ISSN PRVDAQ; ISSN 2470-0010
• Publisher: American Physical SocietyCopyright Statement
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English