$X_{\text{max}}$ reconstruction from amplitude information with AERA

Abstract

The standard method to estimate the mass of a cosmic ray is the measurement of the atmospheric depth of the shower maximum ($X_{\text{max}}$). This depth is strongly correlated with the mass of the primary because it depends on the interaction cross section of the primary with the constituents of the atmosphere. Measuring the electric field, emitted by the secondary particles of an extensive air shower (EAS), with the Auger Engineering Radio Array (AERA) in the 30-80 MHz band allows the determination of the depth of shower maximum on the basis of the good understanding of the radio emission mechanisms. The duty cycle of radio detectors is close to 100\%, making possible the statistical determination of the cosmic-ray mass composition through the study of a large number of cosmic rays above 10${}^{17}$ eV. In this contribution, $X_{\text{max}}$ reconstruction methods based on the study of the radio signal with AERA are detailed.

To be published in the Proceedings of the ARENA2016 conference, Groningen, The Netherlands

References in corpus (1)

• Experimental evidence for the sensitivity of the air-shower radio signal to the longitudinal shower development

Cited by in corpus (5)

• Classification and Recovery of Radio Signals from Cosmic Ray Induced Air Showers with Deep Learning
• Final results of the LOPES radio interferometer for cosmic-ray air showers
• Radiowave Detection of Ultra-High Energy Neutrinos and Cosmic Rays
• Calculations of low-frequency radio emission by cosmic ray-induced particle showers
• Radio Detection of Cosmic Rays -- Achievements and Future Potential