P. Homola

Upper limit on the photon fraction in highest-energy cosmic rays from AGASA data.

A new method to derive an upper limit on photon primaries from small data sets of air showers is developed which accounts for shower properties varying with the primary energy and arrival direction. Applying this method to the highest-energy showers recorded by the AGASA experiment, an upper limit on the photon fraction of 51% (67%) at a confidence level of 90% (95%) for primary energies above 1.25 * 10^20 eV is set. This new limit on the photon fraction above the GZK cutoff energy constrains the Z-burst model of the origin of highest-energy cosmic rays.

Optical image of an extensive air shower

Abstract Photons which constitute a shower image are not emitted simultaneously, but come from a range of shower front positions along the shower path. A spatial distribution of points of origin of photons arriving simultaneously to the eye is determined in this paper. Using realistic distribution of particles in a shower, and taking atmospheric scattering of light into account, the distribution of light arriving simultaneously to a detector is obtained. This instantaneous image (“a snapshot”) of the shower is independent of the detector properties – this is “what the shower looks like” when recorded with an ideal detector.

Simulation of air shower image in fluorescence light based on energy deposits derived from CORSIKA

Abstract Spatial distributions of energy deposited by an extensive air shower in the atmosphere through ionization, as obtained from the CORSIKA simulation program, are used to find the fluorescence light distribution in the optical image of the shower. The shower image derived in this way is somewhat smaller than that obtained from the NKG lateral distribution of particles in the shower. The size of the image shows a small dependence on the primary particle type.

On the primary particle type of the most energetic Fly's Eye event

The longitudinal profile of the 320 EeV event observed by the Fly’s Eye experiment is analysed. A method of testing the hypothesis of a specific primary particle type is described. Results for different particle types are summarized. For hadronic primaries between proton and iron nuclei, the discrepancy between observed and simulated profiles is in the range of 0.6-1.0σ for two different hadronic interaction models investigated. For primary photons, the discrepancy is 1.5σ assuming a standard extrapolation of the photonuclear cross-section with energy. Larger values of the cross-section at highest energies make primary photon showers more similar to hadron-initiated events. The influence of varying the extrapolation of the photonuclear cross-section is studied.

Search for electromagnetic super-preshowers using gamma-ray telescopes.

Any considerations on propagation of particles through the Universe must involve particle interactions: processes leading to production of particle cascades. While one expects existence of such cascades, the state of the art cosmic-ray research is oriented purely on a detection of single particles, gamma rays or associated extensive air showers. The natural extension of the cosmic-ray research with the studies on ensembles of particles and air showers is being proposed by the CREDO Collaboration. Within the CREDO strategy the focus is put on generalized super-preshowers (SPS): spatially and/or temporally extended cascades of particles originated above the Earth atmosphere, possibly even at astrophysical distances. With CREDO we want to find out whether SPS can be at least partially observed by a network of terrestrial and/or satellite detectors receiving primary or secondary cosmic-ray signal. This paper addresses electromagnetic SPS, e.g. initiated by VHE photons interacting with the cosmic microwave background, and the SPS signatures that can be seen by gamma-ray telescopes, exploring the exampleof Cherenkov Telescope Array. The energy spectrum of secondary electrons and photons in an electromagnetic super-preshower might be extended over awide range of energy, down to TeV or even lower, as it is evident from the simulation results. This means that electromagnetic showers induced by such particles in the Earth atmosphere could be observed by imaging atmospheric Cherenkov telescopes. We present preliminary results from the study of response of the Cherenkov Telescope Array to SPS events, including the analysis of the simulated shower images on the camera focal plane and implementedgeneric reconstruction chains based on the Hillas parameters.

Half-bare positron in the inner gap of a pulsar

The main objective of the Cosmic-Ray Extremely Distributed Observatory (CREDO) is the detection and analysis of extended cosmic ray phenomena, so-called super-preshowers (SPS), using existing as well as new infrastructure (cosmic-ray observatories, educational detectors, single detectors etc.). The search for ensembles of cosmic ray events initiated by SPS is yet an untouched ground, in contrast to the current state-of-the-art analysis, which is focused on the detection of single cosmic ray events. Theoretical explanation of SPS could be given either within classical (e.g., photon-photon interaction) or exotic (e.g., Super Heavy Dark Matter decay or annihilation) scenarios, thus detection of SPS would provide a better understanding of particle physics, high energy astrophysics and cosmology. The ensembles of cosmic rays can be classified based on the spatial and temporal extent of particles constituting the ensemble. Some classes of SPS are predicted to have huge spatial distribution, a unique signature detectable only with a facility of the global size. Since development and commissioning of a completely new facility with such requirements is economically unwarranted and time-consuming, the global analysis goals are achievable when all types of existing detectors are merged into a worldwide network. The idea to use the instruments in operation is based on a novel trigger algorithm: in parallel to looking for neighbour surface detectors receiving the signal simultaneously, one should also look for spatially isolated stations clustered in a small time window.

Method to calibrate the absolute energy scale of air showers with ultrahigh energy photons.

Calibrating the absolute energy scale of air showers initiated by ultrahigh energy (UHE) cosmic rays is an important experimental issue. Currently, the corresponding systematic uncertainty amounts to 14%-21% using the fluorescence technique. Here, we describe a new, independent method which can be applied if ultrahigh energy photons are observed. While such photon-initiated showers have not yet been identified, the capabilities of present and future cosmic-ray detectors may allow their discovery. The method makes use of the geomagnetic conversion of UHE photons (preshower effect), which significantly affects the subsequent longitudinal shower development. The conversion probability depends on photon energy and can be calculated accurately by QED. The comparison of the observed fraction of converted photon events to the expected one allows the determination of the absolute energy scale of the observed photon air showers and, thus, an energy calibration of the air shower experiment. We provide details of the method and estimate the accuracy that can be reached as a function of the number of observed photon showers. Already a very small number of UHE photons may help to test and fix the absolute energy scale.

On a possible photon origin of the most-energetic AGASA events

In this work the ultra high energy cosmic ray events recorded by the AGASA experiment are analyzed. With detailed simulations of the extensive air showers initiated by photons, the probabilities are determined of the photonic origin of the 6 AGASA events for which the muon densities were measured and the reconstructed energies exceeded 1020 eV. On this basis a new, preliminary upper limit on the photon fraction in cosmic rays above 1020 eV is derived and compared to the predictions of exemplary top-down cosmic-ray origin models.