Inferences on mass composition and tests of hadronic interactions from 0.3 to 100 EeV using the water-Cherenkov detectors of the Pierre Auger Observatory

0485013 - FZÚ 2018 RIV US eng J - Journal Article
Aab, A. - Abreu, P. - Aglietta, M. - Blažek, Jiří - Boháčová, Martina - Chudoba, Jiří - Ebr, Jan - Juryšek, Jakub - Mandát, Dušan - Palatka, Miroslav - Pech, Miroslav - Prouza, Michael - Řídký, Jan - Schovánek, Petr - Trávníček, Petr - Vícha, Jakub … Total 407 authors
Inferences on mass composition and tests of hadronic interactions from 0.3 to 100 EeV using the water-Cherenkov detectors of the Pierre Auger Observatory.
Physical Review D. Roč. 96, č. 12 (2017), s. 1-22, č. článku 122003. ISSN 2470-0010. E-ISSN 2470-0029
R&D Projects: GA MŠMT LG15014; GA MŠMT EF16_013/0001402
Grant - others:OP VVV - AUGER-CZ(XE) CZ.02.1.01/0.0/0.0/16_013/0001402
Research Infrastructure: AUGER-CZ - 90038
Institutional support: RVO:68378271
Keywords : Cherenkov detectors * Pierre Auger Observatory * tests of hadronic interactions
OECD category: Particles and field physics
Impact factor: 4.394, year: 2017
Method of publishing: Limited access
https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevD.96.122003

We present a new method for probing the hadronic interaction models at ultrahigh energy and extracting details about mass composition. This is done using the time profiles of the signals recorded with the water-Cherenkov detectors of the Pierre Auger Observatory. The profiles arise from a mix of the muon and electromagnetic components of air showers. Using the risetimes of the recorded signals, we define a new parameter, which we use to compare our observations with predictions from simulations. We find, first, inconsistencies between our data and predictions over a greater energy range and with substantially more events than in previous studies. Second, by calibrating the new parameter with fluorescence measurements from observations made at the Auger Observatory, we can infer the depth of shower maximum X-max for a sample of over 81,000 events extending from 0.3 to over 100 EeV.
Permanent Link: http://hdl.handle.net/11104/0280135