A Study of the Composition of Ultra High Energy Cosmic Rays Using the High Resolution Fly's Eye

dc.creators Eye Collaboration
dc.date2004-07-29
dc.date2004-11-24
dc.date.accessioned2026-07-07T10:27:16Z
dc.date.available2026-07-07T10:27:16Z
dc.descriptionThe composition of Ultra High Energy Cosmic Rays (UHECR) is measured with the High Resolution Fly's Eye cosmic ray observatory (HiRes) 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 10^18.0 eV 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 to predictions using the QGSJet01 and SIBYLL 2.1 hadronic interaction models for both protons and iron nuclei. CORSIKA-generated Extensive Air Showers (EAS) 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 to QGSJet and SIBYLL. The best agreement between the model and the data is at 80% protons for QGSJet and 60% protons for SIBYLL.
dc.description52 pages, 27 figures. Revised Fig. 10 caption, improved Fig. 23, resubmitted to ApJ. (Previously revised to address referee's comments.) (Originally 37 pages, 13 figures. Submitted to ApJ)
dc.identifierhttps://arxiv.org/abs/astro-ph/0407622
dc.identifierhttp://arxiv.org/abs/astro-ph/0407622
dc.identifierAstrophys.J.622:910-926,2005
dc.identifierdoi:10.1086/427931
dc.identifier.urihttp://salesiana.dossiersoluciones.com/handle/123456789/177103
dc.subjectAstrophysics
dc.titleA Study of the Composition of Ultra High Energy Cosmic Rays Using the High Resolution Fly's Eye
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