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The wavefront of the radio signal emitted by cosmic ray air showers

LOPES Collaboration; Apel, W. D. 1; Arteaga-Velázquez, J. C.; Bähren, L.; Bekk, K. 1; Bertaina, M.; Biermann, P. L.; Blümer, J. 2; Bozdog, H. 1; Brancus, I. M.; Cantoni, E.; Chiavassa, A.; Daumiller, K. 1; De Souza, V.; Pierro, F. D.; Doll, P. 1; Engel, R. 1; Falcke, H.; Fuchs, B. 2; ... mehr

Abstract:

Analyzing measurements of the LOPES antenna array together with corresponding CoREAS simulations for more than 300 measured events with energy above 1017 eV and zenith angles smaller than 45̂, we find that the radio wavefront of cosmic-ray air showers is of approximately hyperbolic shape. The simulations predict a slightly steeper wavefront towards East than towards West, but this asymmetry is negligible against the measurement uncertainties of LOPES. At axis distances ≳ 50 m, the wavefront can be approximated by a simple cone. According to the simulations, the cone angle is clearly correlated with the shower maximum. Thus, we confirm earlier predictions that arrival time measurements can be used to study the longitudinal shower development, but now using a realistic wavefront. Moreover, we show that the hyperbolic wavefront is compatible with our measurement, and we present several experimental indications that the cone angle is indeed sensitive to the shower development. Consequently, the wavefront can be used to statistically study the primary composition of ultra-high energy cosmic rays. At LOPES, the experimentally achieved precision for the shower maximum is limited by measurement uncertainties to approximately 140 g/c 2. ... mehr


Volltext §
DOI: 10.5445/IR/1000044611
Originalveröffentlichung
DOI: 10.1088/1475-7516/2014/09/025
Scopus
Zitationen: 48
Web of Science
Zitationen: 42
Dimensions
Zitationen: 46
Cover der Publikation
Zugehörige Institution(en) am KIT Institut für Kernphysik (IKP)
Institut für Prozessdatenverarbeitung und Elektronik (IPE)
Publikationstyp Zeitschriftenaufsatz
Publikationsjahr 2014
Sprache Englisch
Identifikator ISSN: 1475-7516
urn:nbn:de:swb:90-446118
KITopen-ID: 1000044611
HGF-Programm 51.04.02 (POF II, LK 01) Hochenergetische Kosmische Strahlung
Erschienen in Journal of Cosmology and Astroparticle Physics
Verlag Institute of Physics Publishing Ltd (IOP Publishing Ltd)
Band 2014
Heft 9
Seiten 025
Bemerkung zur Veröffentlichung Gefördert durch SCOAP3
Nachgewiesen in Dimensions
Scopus
Web of Science
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