D. V. Chernov

Investigation of the properties of the flux and interaction of ultrahigh-energy cosmic rays by the method of local-muon-density spectra

A new method for studying extensive air showers is considered. The method is based on the phenomenology of the localmuon density. It is shown that measurement ofmuon-density spectra at various zenith angles makes it possible to obtain information about the energy spectrum, mass composition, and interaction of cosmic rays over a broad range of energies (1015–1018 eV) by using a single array of comparatively small size. The results obtained from a comparison of experimental data on muon bundles from the DECOR coordinate detector with the results of simulation performed under various assumptions on the properties of the primary flux and for various hadron-interaction models are presented, and possible versions of the interpretation of these results are discussed.

Ultra-high energy cosmic ray investigations by means of EAS muon density measurements

A new approach to investigations of ultra-high energy cosmic rays based on the ground-level measurements of the spectra of local density of EAS muons at various zenith angles is considered. Basic features of the local muon density phenomenology are illustrated using a simple semi-analytical model. It is shown that muon density spectra are sensitive to the spectrum slope, primary composition, and to the features of hadronic interaction. New experimental data on muon bundles at zenith angles from 30° to horizon obtained with the coordinate detector DECOR are compared with CORSIKA-based simulations. It is found that measurements of muon density spectra in inclined EAS give possibility to study characteristics of primary cosmic ray flux in a very wide energy range from 10 15 to 10 19 eV.

NEVOD-DECOR experiment: results and future

Russian-Italian NEVOD-DECOR experiment on the measurements of the local muon density spectra (LMDS) at various zenith angles gave possibility to obtain information on primary cosmic ray flux and interaction characteristics in a record wide energy range from 1015 to more than 1018 eV. Comparison of the measurement results with CORSIKA-based simulations showed the increase of LMDS slope at PeV energies of primaries (corresponding to the first knee); a trend to a heavier primary mass composition above the knee; indication for a second knee (a further increase of the spectrum slope near 1017 eV). At large zenith angles and high muon densities (corresponding to primary energies around 1018 eV) a considerable excess of muon bundle events in comparison with the expectation based on independent estimates of the primary spectrum and widely used hadron interaction models has been found. In 2011, a new phase of measurements of the energy spectrum of cascade showers initiated by high-energy muons in water and of the energy deposit of muon bundles at various zenith angles and muon multiplicities started. Further plans include the deployment of a traditional EAS array around the NEVOD-DECOR complex.

Detection of muon bundles at large zenith angles

The large area coordinate detector (DECOR) represents a multilayer system of plastic streamer tube chamber modules surrounding the Cherenkov water calorimeter NEVOD. Experimental data collected during the test expositions of first. DECOR supermodules (8 vertical planes with 8.4 m 2 working area) have been analysed, angular and spatial reconstruction accuracies have been estimated. The procedure of the selection of events corresponding to detection of parallel tracks (muon bundles originated in the atmosphere) is discussed.

Observation of UHECRs in horizontal flux

Preliminary results of muon bundle studies in of zenith angle range θ ≥ 60° and multiplicities by means of coordinate detector DECOR are discussed. Estimates of muon bundle characteristics at large zenith angles obtained with CORSIKA code demonstrate the ability of such not large detector as NEVOD-DECOR complex to perform cosmic ray studies in a very wide energy range from 1011 eV to more than 1017 eV.

Energy characteristics of multi-muon events in a wide range of zenith angles

Change of the energy characteristics of muon bundles with an increase of the primary cosmic ray particles energy can be a key to solving the problem of muon excess in the extensive air showers (EAS) observed in a number of experiments. In this work the data on the energy deposit of multi-muon events in a wide range of zenith angles (and as a consequence in a wide range of primary particles energies) obtained with NEVOD-DECOR setup over a long time period are presented. The experimental data are compared with the results of simulations of EAS muon component performed using CORSIKA code.

Status of a development of the large scale coordinate-tracking setup based on the drift chambers

The large-scale coordinate detector for registration of near-horizontal muon flux of ultrahigh energy cosmic rays is being developed in MEPhI. Detector is based on the drift chambers from the neutrino experiment at the IHEP accelerator U-70, their key advantages are the large effective area (1.85 m2), good coordinate and angular resolution with a small number of measuring channels. Detector will be operated as a part of the experimental complex NEVOD, in particular, jointly with Cherenkov water detector with volume of 2000 m3. The current status of the project and results of studies of drift chamber characteristics are discussed.

Study of cascade showers generated by near-horizontal muons in the water Cherenkov detector with a dense array of optical modules

The method for reconstructing the cascade curve by the Cherenkov radiation in water of the NEVOD detector with a dense spatial array of optical modules is discussed. Cascades are generated by near-horizontal muons which are separated by the DECOR coordinate detector. The cascade curves and the cascade energy spectrum measured in an ∼8000-hour measurement series are presented.

Investigation of cosmic rays above the knee by means of muon bundles detected in a wide range of zenith angles

The results of investigation of muon bundles at the Earth’s surface in a wide range of zenith angles on the basis of the new phenomenological characteristic of extensive air showers—spectra of local muon density—have been investigated. Features of the local-density spectra are considered within a simple analytical model. The expected distributions of muon density in a wide range of zenith angles and primary energies, calculated on the basis of the CORSIKA code, are compared with the experimental data.

Measurements of integrated muon intensity at large zenith angles

Data from the DECOR coordinate detector on the integrated intensity of muons that have a threshold energy of 1.2 to 2 GeV are analyzed over the zenith-angle interval 60°–90°. Experimental results in these intervals of zenith angles and threshold energies were obtained for the first time. In the interval θ ≤ 80°, the integrated intensity at Emin = 1.5 GeV as a function of the cosine of the zenith angle is described by a power-law function characterized by an exponent value of n = 1.884 ± 0.005, which is close to the value obtained in earlier experiments.High-statistics data on near-horizontal muons collected with Russian-Italian coordinate detector DECOR are analyzed. Precise measurements of muon angular distributions in zenith angle interval from 60 to 90 degrees have been performed. In total, more than 20 million muons are selected. Dependences of the absolute integral muon intensity on zenith angle for several threshold energies ranging from 1.7 GeV to 7.2 GeV are derived. Results for this region of zenith angles and threshold energies have been obtained for the first time. The dependence of integral intensity on zenith angle and threshold energy is well fitted by a simple analytical formula.