Maximum entropy analysis of cosmic ray composition

0458916 - FZÚ 2017 RIV NL eng J - Journal Article
Nosek, D. - Ebr, Jan - Vícha, Jakub - Trávníček, Petr - Nosková, J.
Maximum entropy analysis of cosmic ray composition.
Astroparticle Physics. Roč. 76, Mar (2016), s. 9-18. ISSN 0927-6505. E-ISSN 1873-2852
R&D Projects: GA ČR(CZ) GA14-17501S
Institutional support: RVO:68378271
Keywords : ultra-high energy cosmic rays * extensive air showers * cosmic ray composition
Subject RIV: BF - Elementary Particles and High Energy Physics
Impact factor: 3.257, year: 2016

We focus on the primary composition of cosmic rays with the highest energies that cause extensive air showers in the Earth’s atmosphere. A way of examining the two lowest order moments of the sample distribution of the depth of shower maximum is presented. In order to describe how the moments of the depth of shower maximum depend on the type of primary particles and their energies, we utilize a superposition model. Using the principle of maximum entropy, we are able to determine what trends in the primary composition are consistent with the input data, while relying on a limited amount of information from shower physics. Some capabilities and limitations of the proposed method are discussed. In order to achieve a realistic description of the primary mass composition, we pay special attention to the choice of the parameters of the superposition model. We present two examples that demonstrate what consequences can be drawn for energy dependent changes in the primary composition.
Permanent Link: http://hdl.handle.net/11104/0259128