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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

Abstract:

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 pbkp_redictions from simulations. We find, first, inconsistencies between our data and pbkp_redictions 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 Xmax for a sample of over 81,000 events extending from 0.3 to over 100 EeV. Above 30 EeV, the sample is nearly 14 times larger than what is currently available from fluorescence measurements and extending the covered energy range by half a decade. The energy dependence of ?Xmaxcopyright is compared to simulations and interpreted in terms of the mean of the logarithmic mass. We find good agreement with previous work and extend the measurement of the mean depth of shower maximum to greater energies than before, reducing significantly the statistical uncertainty associated with the inferences about mass composition.

Año de publicación:

2017

Keywords:

    Fuente:

    scopusscopus

    Tipo de documento:

    Article

    Estado:

    Acceso abierto

    Áreas de conocimiento:

    • Física de partículas

    Áreas temáticas:

    • Física moderna

    Contribuidores:

    Albuquerque I.F.M.Albuquerque I.F.M.
    Buchholz P.Buchholz P.
    Abreu P.Abreu P.
    Barreira Luz R.J.Barreira Luz R.J.
    Aublin J.Aublin J.
    Boncioli D.Boncioli D.
    De Oliveira J.De Oliveira J.
    Caruso R.Caruso R.
    Neto J.R.T.d.M.Neto J.R.T.d.M.
    de Jong S.J.de Jong S.J.
    Consolati G.Consolati G.
    Castellina A.Castellina A.
    Dorosti Q.Dorosti Q.
    Botti A.M.Botti A.M.
    Daumiller K.Daumiller K.
    Engel R.Engel R.
    Chudoba J.Chudoba J.
    Diogo F.Diogo F.
    D’olivo J.C.D’olivo J.C.
    Becker K.H.Becker K.H.
    Briechle F.L.Briechle F.L.
    Coutu S.Coutu S.
    Andringa S.Andringa S.
    Cronin J.W.Cronin J.W.
    Buscemi M.Buscemi M.
    Aab A.Aab A.
    Almela A.Almela A.
    Covault C.E.Covault C.E.
    Cazón L.Cazón L.
    Blaess S.G.Blaess S.G.
    Biermann P.L.Biermann P.L.
    Colalillo R.Colalillo R.
    Allekotte I.Allekotte I.
    Aglietta M.Aglietta M.
    De Almeida R.M.De Almeida R.M.
    Conceiç˜ao R.Conceiç˜ao R.
    Anastasi G.A.Anastasi G.A.
    Cooper M.J.Cooper M.J.
    Mary L. Díaz CastroMary L. Díaz Castro
    Javier GarciaJavier Garcia
    Coluccia M.R.Coluccia M.R.
    Bonifazi C.Bonifazi C.
    Dova M.T.Dova M.T.
    Blazek J.Blazek J.
    Bellido J.A.Bellido J.A.
    Brancus I.Brancus I.
    Avila G.Avila G.
    Chavez A.G.Chavez A.G.
    Collica L.Collica L.
    Arsene N.Arsene N.
    Dasso S.Dasso S.
    Anchordoqui L.A.Anchordoqui L.A.
    Chinellato J.A.Chinellato J.A.
    Buitink S.Buitink S.
    Caramete L.Caramete L.
    Caballero-Mora K.S.Caballero-Mora K.S.
    Bertou X.Bertou X.
    Borodai N.Borodai N.
    Dawson B.R.Dawson B.R.
    Dundovic A.Dundovic A.
    Bohã̌cov́a M.Bohã̌cov́a M.
    Mitri I.D.Mitri I.D.
    Andrada B.Andrada B.
    Brack J.Brack J.
    Biteau J.Biteau J.
    Daniel B.Daniel B.
    Badescu A.M.Badescu A.M.
    Ebr J.Ebr J.
    Coleman A.Coleman A.
    Contreras F.Contreras F.
    Catalani F.Catalani F.
    Beatty J.J.Beatty J.J.
    Barbato F.Barbato F.
    Souza V.d.Souza V.d.
    Assis P.Assis P.
    Clay R.W.Clay R.W.
    Berat C.Berat C.
    Asorey H.G.Asorey H.G.
    Bridgeman A.Bridgeman A.
    Caccianiga L.Caccianiga L.
    Bueno A.Bueno A.
    Dobrigkeit C.Dobrigkeit C.
    Balaceanu A.Balaceanu A.
    De Mauro G.De Mauro G.
    Cobos A.Cobos A.
    Cancio A.Cancio A.
    Canfora F.Canfora F.
    Arqueros F.Arqueros F.
    Bretz T.Bretz T.
    dos Anjos R.C.dos Anjos R.C.
    Al Samarai I.Al Samarai I.
    Alvarez Castillo J.Alvarez Castillo J.
    Bleve C.Bleve C.
    D’Amico S.D’Amico S.
    Debatin J.Debatin J.
    Cataldi G.Cataldi G.
    Bertaina M.E.Bertaina M.E.
    Aramo C.Aramo C.
    Blanco A.Blanco A.
    Deligny O.Deligny O.
    Alvarez-Mu˜niz J.Alvarez-Mu˜niz J.