A study of the composition of ultra-high-energy cosmic rays using the High-Resolution Fly's Eye

R. U. Abbasi; T. Abu-Zayyad; G. Archbold; R. Atkins; J. Bellido; K. Belov; J. W. Belz; S. Benzvi; D. R. Bergman; J. Boyer; G. W. Burt; Z. Cao; R. Clay; B. M. Connolly; B. Dawson; W. Deng; Y. Fedorova; J. Findlay; C. B. Finley; W. F. Hanlon; G. A. Hughes; P. Huntemeyer; C. C.H. Jui; K. Kim; M. A. Kirn; B. Knapp; E. C. Loh; M. M. Maetas; K. Martens; G. Martin; N. Manago; E. J. Mannel; J. A.J. Matthews; J. N. Matthews; A. O'Neill; L. Perera; K. Reil; R. Riehle; M. D. Roberts; M. Sasaki; M. Seman; S. R. Schnetzer; K. Simpson; J. D. Smith; R. Snow; P. Sokolsky; C. Song; R. W. Springer; B. T. Stokes; J. R. Thomas; S. B. Thomas; G. B. Thomson; S. Westerhoff; L. R. Wiencke; A. Zech

doi:10.1086/427931

A study of the composition of ultra-high-energy cosmic rays using the High-Resolution Fly's Eye

R. U. Abbasi, T. Abu-Zayyad, G. Archbold, R. Atkins, J. Bellido, K. Belov, J. W. Belz, S. Benzvi, D. R. Bergman, J. Boyer, G. W. Burt, Z. Cao, R. Clay, B. M. Connolly, B. Dawson, W. Deng, Y. Fedorova, J. Findlay, C. B. Finley, W. F. HanlonG. A. Hughes, P. Huntemeyer, C. C.H. Jui, K. Kim, M. A. Kirn, B. Knapp, E. C. Loh, M. M. Maetas, K. Martens, G. Martin, N. Manago, E. J. Mannel, J. A.J. Matthews, J. N. Matthews, A. O'Neill, L. Perera, K. Reil, R. Riehle, M. D. Roberts, M. Sasaki, M. Seman, S. R. Schnetzer, K. Simpson, J. D. Smith, R. Snow, P. Sokolsky, C. Song, R. W. Springer, B. T. Stokes, J. R. Thomas, S. B. Thomas, G. B. Thomson, S. Westerhoff, L. R. Wiencke, A. Zech

School of Arts and Sciences, Physics & Astronomy

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Abstract

The composition of ultra-high-energy cosmic rays is measured with the High Resolution Fly's Eye cosmic-ray observatory data using the X_max technique. Data were collected in stereo between 1999 November and 2001 September. The data are reconstructed with well-determined geometry. Measurements of the atmospheric transmission are incorporated in the reconstruction. The detector resolution is found to be 30 g cm^-2 in X_max and 13% in energy. The X_max elongation rate between 10^18.0 and 10^19.4 eV is measured to be 54.5 ± 6.5(stat) ± 4.5(sys) g cm^-2 per decade. This is compared with predictions using the QGSJet01 and SIBYLL 2.1 hadronic interaction models for both protons and iron nuclei. CORSIKA-generated extensive air showers are incorporated directly into a detailed detector Monte Carlo program. The elongation rate and the X_max distribution widths are consistent with a constant or slowly changing and predominantly light composition. A simple model containing only protons and iron nuclei is compared with QGSJet and SIBYLL. The best agreement between the model and the data is for 80% protons for QGSJet and 60% protons for SIBYLL.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	910-926
Number of pages	17
Journal	Astrophysical Journal
Volume	622
Issue number	2 I
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1086/427931
State	Published - Apr 1 2005

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

Astronomy and Astrophysics
Space and Planetary Science

Keywords

Acceleration of particles
Cosmic rays
Large-scale structure of universe

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10.1086/427931

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Abbasi, R. U., Abu-Zayyad, T., Archbold, G., Atkins, R., Bellido, J., Belov, K., Belz, J. W., Benzvi, S., Bergman, D. R., Boyer, J., Burt, G. W., Cao, Z., Clay, R., Connolly, B. M., Dawson, B., Deng, W., Fedorova, Y., Findlay, J., Finley, C. B., ... Zech, A. (2005). A study of the composition of ultra-high-energy cosmic rays using the High-Resolution Fly's Eye. Astrophysical Journal, 622(2 I), 910-926. https://doi.org/10.1086/427931

@article{35f5aea9531f4a7b9eea3eb147f37417,

title = "A study of the composition of ultra-high-energy cosmic rays using the High-Resolution Fly's Eye",

abstract = "The composition of ultra-high-energy cosmic rays is measured with the High Resolution Fly's Eye cosmic-ray observatory data using the Xmax technique. Data were collected in stereo between 1999 November and 2001 September. The data are reconstructed with well-determined geometry. Measurements of the atmospheric transmission are incorporated in the reconstruction. The detector resolution is found to be 30 g cm-2 in Xmax and 13% in energy. The Xmax elongation rate between 1018.0 and 1019.4 eV is measured to be 54.5 ± 6.5(stat) ± 4.5(sys) g cm-2 per decade. This is compared with predictions using the QGSJet01 and SIBYLL 2.1 hadronic interaction models for both protons and iron nuclei. CORSIKA-generated extensive air showers are incorporated directly into a detailed detector Monte Carlo program. The elongation rate and the Xmax distribution widths are consistent with a constant or slowly changing and predominantly light composition. A simple model containing only protons and iron nuclei is compared with QGSJet and SIBYLL. The best agreement between the model and the data is for 80% protons for QGSJet and 60% protons for SIBYLL.",

keywords = "Acceleration of particles, Cosmic rays, Large-scale structure of universe",

author = "Abbasi, {R. U.} and T. Abu-Zayyad and G. Archbold and R. Atkins and J. Bellido and K. Belov and Belz, {J. W.} and S. Benzvi and Bergman, {D. R.} and J. Boyer and Burt, {G. W.} and Z. Cao and R. Clay and Connolly, {B. M.} and B. Dawson and W. Deng and Y. Fedorova and J. Findlay and Finley, {C. B.} and Hanlon, {W. F.} and Hughes, {G. A.} and P. Huntemeyer and Jui, {C. C.H.} and K. Kim and Kirn, {M. A.} and B. Knapp and Loh, {E. C.} and Maetas, {M. M.} and K. Martens and G. Martin and N. Manago and Mannel, {E. J.} and Matthews, {J. A.J.} and Matthews, {J. N.} and A. O'Neill and L. Perera and K. Reil and R. Riehle and Roberts, {M. D.} and M. Sasaki and M. Seman and Schnetzer, {S. R.} and K. Simpson and Smith, {J. D.} and R. Snow and P. Sokolsky and C. Song and Springer, {R. W.} and Stokes, {B. T.} and Thomas, {J. R.} and Thomas, {S. B.} and Thomson, {G. B.} and S. Westerhoff and Wiencke, {L. R.} and A. Zech",

year = "2005",

month = apr,

day = "1",

doi = "10.1086/427931",

language = "English (US)",

volume = "622",

pages = "910--926",

journal = "Astrophysical Journal",

issn = "0004-637X",

publisher = "IOP Publishing Ltd.",

number = "2 I",

}

Abbasi, RU, Abu-Zayyad, T, Archbold, G, Atkins, R, Bellido, J, Belov, K, Belz, JW, Benzvi, S, Bergman, DR, Boyer, J, Burt, GW, Cao, Z, Clay, R, Connolly, BM, Dawson, B, Deng, W, Fedorova, Y, Findlay, J, Finley, CB, Hanlon, WF, Hughes, GA, Huntemeyer, P, Jui, CCH, Kim, K, Kirn, MA, Knapp, B, Loh, EC, Maetas, MM, Martens, K, Martin, G, Manago, N, Mannel, EJ, Matthews, JAJ, Matthews, JN, O'Neill, A, Perera, L, Reil, K, Riehle, R, Roberts, MD, Sasaki, M, Seman, M, Schnetzer, SR, Simpson, K, Smith, JD, Snow, R, Sokolsky, P, Song, C, Springer, RW, Stokes, BT, Thomas, JR, Thomas, SB, Thomson, GB, Westerhoff, S, Wiencke, LR & Zech, A 2005, 'A study of the composition of ultra-high-energy cosmic rays using the High-Resolution Fly's Eye', Astrophysical Journal, vol. 622, no. 2 I, pp. 910-926. https://doi.org/10.1086/427931

TY - JOUR

T1 - A study of the composition of ultra-high-energy cosmic rays using the High-Resolution Fly's Eye

AU - Abbasi, R. U.

AU - Abu-Zayyad, T.

AU - Archbold, G.

AU - Atkins, R.

AU - Bellido, J.

AU - Belov, K.

AU - Belz, J. W.

AU - Benzvi, S.

AU - Bergman, D. R.

AU - Boyer, J.

AU - Burt, G. W.

AU - Cao, Z.

AU - Clay, R.

AU - Connolly, B. M.

AU - Dawson, B.

AU - Deng, W.

AU - Fedorova, Y.

AU - Findlay, J.

AU - Finley, C. B.

AU - Hanlon, W. F.

AU - Hughes, G. A.

AU - Huntemeyer, P.

AU - Jui, C. C.H.

AU - Kim, K.

AU - Kirn, M. A.

AU - Knapp, B.

AU - Loh, E. C.

AU - Maetas, M. M.

AU - Martens, K.

AU - Martin, G.

AU - Manago, N.

AU - Mannel, E. J.

AU - Matthews, J. A.J.

AU - Matthews, J. N.

AU - O'Neill, A.

AU - Perera, L.

AU - Reil, K.

AU - Riehle, R.

AU - Roberts, M. D.

AU - Sasaki, M.

AU - Seman, M.

AU - Schnetzer, S. R.

AU - Simpson, K.

AU - Smith, J. D.

AU - Snow, R.

AU - Sokolsky, P.

AU - Song, C.

AU - Springer, R. W.

AU - Stokes, B. T.

AU - Thomas, J. R.

AU - Thomas, S. B.

AU - Thomson, G. B.

AU - Westerhoff, S.

AU - Wiencke, L. R.

AU - Zech, A.

PY - 2005/4/1

Y1 - 2005/4/1

N2 - The composition of ultra-high-energy cosmic rays is measured with the High Resolution Fly's Eye cosmic-ray observatory data using the Xmax technique. Data were collected in stereo between 1999 November and 2001 September. The data are reconstructed with well-determined geometry. Measurements of the atmospheric transmission are incorporated in the reconstruction. The detector resolution is found to be 30 g cm-2 in Xmax and 13% in energy. The Xmax elongation rate between 1018.0 and 1019.4 eV is measured to be 54.5 ± 6.5(stat) ± 4.5(sys) g cm-2 per decade. This is compared with predictions using the QGSJet01 and SIBYLL 2.1 hadronic interaction models for both protons and iron nuclei. CORSIKA-generated extensive air showers are incorporated directly into a detailed detector Monte Carlo program. The elongation rate and the Xmax distribution widths are consistent with a constant or slowly changing and predominantly light composition. A simple model containing only protons and iron nuclei is compared with QGSJet and SIBYLL. The best agreement between the model and the data is for 80% protons for QGSJet and 60% protons for SIBYLL.

AB - The composition of ultra-high-energy cosmic rays is measured with the High Resolution Fly's Eye cosmic-ray observatory data using the Xmax technique. Data were collected in stereo between 1999 November and 2001 September. The data are reconstructed with well-determined geometry. Measurements of the atmospheric transmission are incorporated in the reconstruction. The detector resolution is found to be 30 g cm-2 in Xmax and 13% in energy. The Xmax elongation rate between 1018.0 and 1019.4 eV is measured to be 54.5 ± 6.5(stat) ± 4.5(sys) g cm-2 per decade. This is compared with predictions using the QGSJet01 and SIBYLL 2.1 hadronic interaction models for both protons and iron nuclei. CORSIKA-generated extensive air showers are incorporated directly into a detailed detector Monte Carlo program. The elongation rate and the Xmax distribution widths are consistent with a constant or slowly changing and predominantly light composition. A simple model containing only protons and iron nuclei is compared with QGSJet and SIBYLL. The best agreement between the model and the data is for 80% protons for QGSJet and 60% protons for SIBYLL.

KW - Acceleration of particles

KW - Cosmic rays

KW - Large-scale structure of universe

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=19944361842&partnerID=8YFLogxK

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=19944361842&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1086/427931

DO - 10.1086/427931

M3 - Article

AN - SCOPUS:19944361842

SN - 0004-637X

VL - 622

SP - 910

EP - 926

JO - Astrophysical Journal

JF - Astrophysical Journal

IS - 2 I

ER -

A study of the composition of ultra-high-energy cosmic rays using the High-Resolution Fly's Eye

Abstract

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

Keywords

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