D. R. Bergman

Measurement of the flux of ultrahigh energy cosmic rays from monocular observations by the high resolution fly's eye experiment

We have measured the cosmic ray spectrum above 10^17.2 eV using the two air fluorescence detectors of the High Resolution Flys Eye observatory operating in monocular mode. We describe the detector, photo-tube and atmospheric calibrations, as well as the analysis techniques for the two detectors. We fit the spectrum to a model consisting of galactic and extra-galactic sources.

Indications of Proton-Dominated Cosmic-Ray Composition above 1.6 EeV

We report studies of ultrahigh-energy cosmic-ray composition via analysis of depth of air shower maximum (X(max)), for air shower events collected by the High-Resolution Flys Eye (HiRes) observatory. The HiRes data are consistent with a constant elongation rate d/d[log(E)] of 47.9+/-6.0(stat)+/-3.2(syst) g/cm2/decade for energies between 1.6 and 63 EeV, and are consistent with a predominantly protonic composition of cosmic rays when interpreted via the QGSJET01 and QGSJET-II high-energy hadronic interaction models. These measurements constrain models in which the galactic-to-extragalactic transition is the cause of the energy spectrum ankle at 4x10(18) eV.

A Study of the Composition of Ultra-High-Energy Cosmic Rays Using the High-Resolution Fly’s Eye

The composition of Ultra High Energy Cosmic Rays (UHECR) is measured with the High Resolution Flys Eye cosmic ray observatory (HiRes) data using the Xmax technique. Data were collected in stereo between 1999 November and 2001 September. The data are reconstructed with well-determined geometry. Measurements of the atmospheric transmission are incorporated in the reconstruction. The detector resolution is found to be 30 g cm^-2 in Xmax and 13% in Energy. The Xmax elongation rate between 10^18.0 eV and 10^19.4 eV is measured to be 54.5 +/- 6.5 (stat) +/- 4.5 (sys) g cm^-2 per decade. This is compared to predictions using the QGSJet01 and SIBYLL 2.1 hadronic interaction models for both protons and iron nuclei. CORSIKA-generated Extensive Air Showers (EAS) are incorporated directly into a detailed detector Monte Carlo program. The elongation rate and the Xmax distribution widths are consistent with a constant or slowly changing and predominantly light composition. A simple model containing only protons and iron nuclei is compared to QGSJet and SIBYLL. The best agreement between the model and the data is at 80% protons for QGSJet and 60% protons for SIBYLL.The composition of ultra-high-energy cosmic rays is measured with the High Resolution Flys Eye cosmic-ray observatory data using the Xmax technique. Data were collected in stereo between 1999 November and 2001 September. The data are reconstructed with well-determined geometry. Measurements of the atmospheric transmission are incorporated in the reconstruction. The detector resolution is found to be 30 g cm-2 in Xmax and 13% in energy. The Xmax elongation rate between 1018.0 and 1019.4 eV is measured to be 54.5 ± 6.5 ± 4.5 g cm-2 per decade. This is compared with predictions using the QGSJet01 and SIBYLL 2.1 hadronic interaction models for both protons and iron nuclei. CORSIKA-generated extensive air showers are incorporated directly into a detailed detector Monte Carlo program. The elongation rate and the Xmax distribution widths are consistent with a constant or slowly changing and predominantly light composition. A simple model containing only protons and iron nuclei is compared with QGSJet and SIBYLL. The best agreement between the model and the data is for 80% protons for QGSJet and 60% protons for SIBYLL.

Search for the decay

Abstract Data collected in Fermilab experiment E731 was used to perform the first search for the decay K L →π 0 ν ν . This decay is dominated by short distance effects and is almost entirely direct CP violating within the standard model. Cuts were developed to reject the background processes Λ→nπ0 and KL→π+e−γν. No candidate events were seen. We find BR (K L →π 0 ν ν ) −4 at the 90% confidence level.We report on a search for the rare decay K_L -> pi^0 nu nubar in the KTeV experiment at Fermilab. We searched for two-photon events whose kinematics were consistent with an isolated pi^0 coming from the decay K_L -> pi^0 nu nubar. One candidate event was observed, which was consistent with the expected level of background. An upper limit on the branching ratio was determined to be B(K_L -> pi^0 nu nubar) < 1.6E-6 at the 90% confidence level.We report on a search for the rare decay K_L -> pi^0 nu nubar in the KTeV experiment at Fermilab. We searched for two-photon events whose kinematics were consistent with an isolated pi^0 coming from the decay K_L -> pi^0 nu nubar. One candidate event was observed, which was consistent with the expected level of background. An upper limit on the branching ratio was determined to be B(K_L -> pi^0 nu nubar) < 1.6E-6 at the 90% confidence level.

Search for correlations between HiRes stereo events and active galactic nuclei

Abstract We have searched for correlations between the pointing directions of ultrahigh energy cosmic rays observed by the High Resolution Fly’s Eye experiment and active galactic nuclei (AGN) visible from its northern hemisphere location. No correlations, other than random correlations, have been found. We report our results using search parameters prescribed by the Pierre Auger collaboration. Using these parameters, the Auger collaboration concludes that a positive correlation exists for sources visible to their southern hemisphere location. We also describe results using two methods for determining the chance probability of correlations: one in which a hypothesis is formed from scanning one half of the data and tested on the second half, and another which involves a scan over the entire data set. The most significant correlation found occurred with a chance probability of 24%.

High statistics measurement of K(e4) decay properties

We report experimental details and results of a new measurement of the decay K+ -> pi+pi-e+nue (Ke4}. A sample of more than 400,000 Ke4 events with low background has been collected by Experiment 865 at the Brookhaven Alternate Gradient Synchrotron. From these data, the branching ratio (4.11+-0.01+-0.11)*10**(-5) and the pi-pi invariant mass dependence of the form factors F, G, and H of the weak hadronic current as well as the phase shift difference delta00-delta11 for pi-pi-scattering were extracted. Using constraints based on analyticity and chiral symmetry, a new value with considerably improved accuracy for the s-wave pi-pi-scattering length a00 has been obtained also: a00=0.216+-0.013 (stat.)+-0.002(syst.)+-0.002(theor.).

High statistics measurement ofKe4decay properties

We report experimental details and results of a new measurement of the decay K+ -> pi+pi-e+nue (Ke4}. A sample of more than 400,000 Ke4 events with low background has been collected by Experiment 865 at the Brookhaven Alternate Gradient Synchrotron. From these data, the branching ratio (4.11+-0.01+-0.11)*10**(-5) and the pi-pi invariant mass dependence of the form factors F, G, and H of the weak hadronic current as well as the phase shift difference delta00-delta11 for pi-pi-scattering were extracted. Using constraints based on analyticity and chiral symmetry, a new value with considerably improved accuracy for the s-wave pi-pi-scattering length a00 has been obtained also: a00=0.216+-0.013 (stat.)+-0.002(syst.)+-0.002(theor.).

Search for cross-correlations of ultrahigh-energy cosmic rays with BL Lacertae objects

Data taken in stereo mode by the High Resolution Flys Eye (HiRes) air fluorescence experiment are analyzed to search for correlations between the arrival directions of ultra--high-energy cosmic rays with the positions of BL Lacertae objects. Several previous claims of significant correlations between BL Lacs and cosmic rays observed by other experiments are tested. These claims are not supported by the HiRes data. However, we verify a recent analysis of correlations between HiRes events and a subset of confirmed BL Lacs from the 10th Veron Catalog, and we study this correlation in detail. Due to the a posteriori nature of the search, the significance level cannot be reliably estimated and the correlation must be tested independently before any claim can be made. We identify the precise hypotheses that will be tested with statistically independent data.Data taken in stereo mode by the High Resolution Flys Eye (HiRes) air fluorescence experiment are analyzed to search for correlations between the arrival directions of ultrahigh-energy cosmic rays with the positions of BL Lacertae objects. Several previous claims of significant correlations between BL Lac objects and cosmic rays observed by other experiments are tested. These claims are not supported by the HiRes data. However, we verify a recent analysis of correlations between HiRes events and a subset of confirmed BL Lac objects from the 10th Veron Catalog, and we study this correlation in detail. Due to the a posteriori nature of the search, the significance level cannot be reliably estimated and the correlation must be tested independently before any claim can be made. We identify the precise hypotheses that will be tested with statistically independent data.

Measurement of the flux of ultra high energy cosmic rays by the stereo technique

The High Resolution Fly’s Eye (HiRes) experiment has measured the flux of ultrahigh energy cosmic rays using the stereoscopic air fluorescence technique. The HiRes experiment consists of two detectors that observe cosmic ray showers via the fluorescence light they emit. HiRes data can be analyzed in monocular mode, where each detector is treated separately, or in stereoscopic mode where they are considered together. Using the monocular mode the HiRes collaboration measured the cosmic ray spectrum and made the first observation of the Greisen–Zatsepin–Kuzmin cutoff. In this paper we present the cosmic ray spectrum measured by the stereoscopic technique. Good agreement is found with the monocular spectrum in all details.

New, high statistics measurement of the K+ ---> pi0 e+ nu (K+(e3)) branching ratio

E865 at the Brookhaven National Laboratory AGS collected about 70 000 K(+)(e3) events to measure the K(+)(e3) branching ratio relative to the observed K+-->pi(+)pi(0), K+-->pi(0)micro(+)nu, and K+-->pi(+)pi(0)pi(0) decays. The pi(0) in all the decays was detected using the e(+)e(-) pair from pi(0)-->e(+)e(-)gamma decay and no photons were required. Using the 2002 Particle Data Group branching ratios for the normalization decays, we obtain BR(K(+)(e3(gamma)))=(5.13+/-0.02(stat)+/-0.09(syst)+/-0.04(norm))%, where K(+)(e3(gamma)) includes the effect of virtual and real photons. This result is approximately 2.3sigma higher than the current Particle Data Group value. Implications for the V(us) element of the CKM matrix, and the matrixs unitarity are discussed.