1. Measuring the proton-proton interaction cross section with hybrid data of the Pierre Auger ObservatoryOlena Tkachenko, Andrej Filipčič, Jon Paul Lundquist, Shima Ujjani Shivashankara, Samo Stanič, Serguei Vorobiov, Danilo Zavrtanik, Marko Zavrtanik, 2025, published scientific conference contribution Abstract: The depth of the maximum of an air shower development, Xmax, as observed with fluorescence telescopes, is among the most sensitive observables for studying the interaction characteristics and primary composition of ultra-high-energy cosmic rays. However, precise measurement of the interaction cross section remains challenging, as standard analyses often rely on assumptions about the composition, which are closely tied to the validity of specific hadronic interaction models. In this work, we discuss a method for the simultaneous estimation of the proton-proton interaction cross section and primary mass composition, addressing the limitations of separate measurements. The inclusion of the Xmax scale into the fit further accounts for systematic uncertainties in the data and theoretical uncertainties in particle production. The performance of the method is evaluated using simulations that include detector responses under realistic conditions and with a particular focus on assessing the systematic uncertainties of the fit.
Keywords: ultra-high-energy cosmic rays, Pierre Auger Observatory, extensive air showers, air shower maximum depth
Published in RUNG: 28.03.2025; Views: 420; Downloads: 8
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2. Inference of the Mass Composition of Cosmic Rays with Energies from 10[sup]18.5 to 10[sup]20 eV Using the Pierre Auger Observatory and Deep LearningA. Abdul Halim, Andrej Filipčič, Jon Paul Lundquist, Shima Ujjani Shivashankara, Samo Stanič, Serguei Vorobiov, Danilo Zavrtanik, Marko Zavrtanik, 2025, original scientific article Abstract: We present measurements of the atmospheric depth of the shower maximum Xmax,
inferred for the first time on an event-by-event level using the Surface Detector
of the Pierre Auger Observatory. Using deep learning, we were able to extend
measurements of the Xmax distributions up to energies of 100 EeV (10[sup]20 eV),
not yet revealed by current measurements, providing new insights into the mass
composition of cosmic rays at extreme energies.
Gaining a 10-fold increase in statistics compared to the Fluorescence Detector data,
we find evidence that the rate of change of the average Xmax with the logarithm
of energy features three breaks at 6.5 ± 0.6 (stat) ± 1 (sys) EeV,
11 ± 2 (stat) ± 1 (sys) EeV, and 31 ± 5 (stat) ± 3 (sys) EeV, in the vicinity to the three
prominent features (ankle, instep, suppression) of the cosmic-ray flux.
The energy evolution of the mean and standard deviation of the measured Xmax
distributions indicates that the mass composition becomes increasingly heavier
and purer, thus being incompatible with a large fraction of light nuclei between
50 EeV and 100 EeV.
Keywords: ultra-high-energy cosmic rays (UHECRs), extensive air showers, Pierre Auger Observatory, UHECR mass composition, depth of the shower maximum, fluorescence detector, surface detector, deep learning
Published in RUNG: 20.01.2025; Views: 748; Downloads: 5
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3. Measurement of the depth of maximum of air-shower profiles with energies between ▫$10^{18.5} and 10^{20}$▫ eV using the surface detector of the Pierre Auger Observatory and deep learningA. Abdul Halim, P. Abreu, M. Aglietta, Andrej Filipčič, Jon Paul Lundquist, Shima Ujjani Shivashankara, Samo Stanič, Serguei Vorobiov, Danilo Zavrtanik, Marko Zavrtanik, 2025, original scientific article Abstract: We report an investigation of the mass composition of cosmic rays with energies
from 3 to 100 EeV (1 EeV = 10[sup]18 eV) using the distributions of the depth of shower
maximum Xmax. The analysis relies on ∼50,000 events recorded by the surface detector
of the Pierre Auger Observatory and a deep-learning-based reconstruction algorithm.
Above energies of 5 EeV, the dataset offers a 10-fold increase in statistics with respect to
fluorescence measurements at the Observatory. After cross-calibration using
the fluorescence detector, this enables the first measurement of the evolution of the mean
and the standard deviation of the Xmax distributions up to 100 EeV.
Our findings are threefold: (i) The evolution of the mean logarithmic mass toward a heavier
composition with increasing energy can be confirmed and is extended to 100 EeV.
(ii) The evolution of the fluctuations of Xmax toward a heavier and purer composition
with increasing energy can be confirmed with high statistics. We report a rather heavy
composition and small fluctuations in Xmax at the highest energies.
(iii) We find indications for a characteristic structure beyond a constant change
in the mean logarithmic mass, featuring three breaks that are observed in proximity
to the ankle, instep, and suppression features in the energy spectrum.
Keywords: ultra-high-energy cosmic rays, UHECRs, extensive air showers, Pierre Auger Observatory, UHECR mass composition, depth of shower maximum, fluorescence detector, surface detector, deep learning
Published in RUNG: 20.01.2025; Views: 779; Downloads: 8
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4. Probing hadronic interactions using the latest data measured by the Pierre Auger ObservatoryCaterina Trimarelli, Andrej Filipčič, Jon Paul Lundquist, Shima Ujjani Shivashankara, Samo Stanič, Serguei Vorobiov, Danilo Zavrtanik, Marko Zavrtanik, Lukas Zehrer, 2022, published scientific conference contribution Abstract: The Pierre Auger Observatory is the world’s largest ultra-high energy cosmic ray observatory. Its hybrid detection technique combines the observation of the longitudinal development of extensive air showers and the lateral distribution of particles arriving at the ground. In this contribution, a review of the latest results on hadronic interactions using measurements from the Pierre Auger Observatory is given. In particular, we report on the self-consistency tests of the post-LHC models using measurements of the depth of the shower maximum and the main features of the muon component at the ground. The tensions between the model predictions and the data, considering different shower observables, are reviewed.
Keywords: ultra-high-energy cosmic rays, hadronic interactions, extensive air showers, maximum depth, EAS muon content, Pierre Auger Observatory, post-LHC hadronic interaction models
Published in RUNG: 04.10.2024; Views: 1153; Downloads: 8
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5. Estimating the Depth of Shower Maximum using the Surface Detectors of the Pierre Auger ObservatoryCarlos José Todero Peixoto, Andrej Filipčič, Gašper Kukec Mezek, Samo Stanič, Marta Trini, Serguei Vorobiov, Lili Yang, Danilo Zavrtanik, Marko Zavrtanik, Lukas Zehrer, 2019, published scientific conference contribution Keywords: Pierre Auger Observatory, ultra-high energy cosmic rays (UHECR), extensive air showers, Auger Surface Detector (SD) array, depth
of shower maximum
Published in RUNG: 21.12.2020; Views: 3683; Downloads: 69
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6. Measurements of the depth of maximum muon production and of its fluctuations in extensive air showers above 1.5×10^19 eV at the Pierre Auger ObservatoryManuela Mallamaci, Andrej Filipčič, Gašper Kukec Mezek, Ahmed Saleh, Samo Stanič, Marta Trini, Serguei Vorobiov, Lili Yang, Danilo Zavrtanik, Marko Zavrtanik, 2017, published scientific conference contribution Keywords: extensive air showers above, depth of maximum muon production, Pierre Auger Observatory
Published in RUNG: 16.02.2018; Views: 4291; Downloads: 164
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7. Depth of maximum of air-shower profiles at the Pierre Auger Observatory: Measurements above 10^17.2 eV and Composition ImplicationsJosé Bellido, Andrej Filipčič, Gašper Kukec Mezek, Ahmed Saleh, Samo Stanič, Marta Trini, Serguei Vorobiov, Lili Yang, Danilo Zavrtanik, Marko Zavrtanik, 2017, published scientific conference contribution Keywords: Pierre Auger Observatory, depth of maximum of air-shower, mass composition
Published in RUNG: 16.02.2018; Views: 4365; Downloads: 146
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8. Measurement of the energy spectrum of cosmic rays with the Pierre Auger ObservatoryVitor de Souza, Andrej Filipčič, Ahmed Saleh, Samo Stanič, Darko Veberič, Serguei Vorobiov, Danilo Zavrtanik, Marko Zavrtanik, 2016, published scientific conference contribution Keywords: Ultra-high energy cosmic rays (UHECR), UHECR elemental composition, Pierre Auger Observatory, extensive air showers (EAS), EAS longitudinal profiles, depth of shower maximum
Published in RUNG: 09.11.2016; Views: 5845; Downloads: 0
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9. Report of the Working Group on the Composition of Ultra-High Energy Cosmic RaysMichael Unger, Andrej Filipčič, Gašper Kukec Mezek, Ahmed Saleh, Samo Stanič, Marta Trini, Darko Veberič, Serguei Vorobiov, Lili Yang, Danilo Zavrtanik, Marko Zavrtanik, 2015, published scientific conference contribution Abstract: The atmospheric depth, Xmax, at which the particle number of
an air shower reaches its maximum is a good indicator for the
mass of the primary particle. We present a comparison of the
energy evolution of the mean of Xmax as measured by the
Telescope Array and c Collaborations. After
accounting for the different resolutions, acceptances and
analysis strategies of the two experiments, the two results are
found to be in good agreement within systematic uncertainties.
Keywords: Pierre Auger Observatory, Telescope Array, Ultra-High Energy Cosmic Rays, elemental composition, extensive air showers, the atmospheric depth of the air shower maximum
Published in RUNG: 08.03.2016; Views: 5955; Downloads: 238
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10. Measurements of Xmax above 10[sup]17 eV with the fluorescence detector of the Pierre Auger ObservatoryAlessio Porcelli, Andrej Filipčič, Gašper Kukec Mezek, Ahmed Saleh, Samo Stanič, Marta Trini, Darko Veberič, Serguei Vorobiov, Lili Yang, Danilo Zavrtanik, Marko Zavrtanik, 2015, published scientific conference contribution Abstract: For the first time the Pierre Auger Collaboration
presents〈Xmax〉and σ(Xmax) measurements covering nearly three decades of energy. In this analysis we include
new Xmax data obtained with the High Elevation Auger
Telescopes (HEAT) enhancement. The HEAT telescopes cover
a field of view ranging from 30◦ to 60◦ of elevation and are
located next to one of the standard fluorescence detector sites
(Coihueco). The combination of the HEAT and Coihueco telescopes
covers a field of view from ∼2◦ up to ∼60◦ of elevation. Thus,
the combination can sample the longitudinal profile of nearby
lower energy showers, allowing us to extend the energy range
down to 10[sup]17 eV.
Keywords: extensive atmospheric showers, longitudinal shower profile, depth of the shower maximum, Pierre Auger Observatory
Published in RUNG: 03.03.2016; Views: 6630; Downloads: 239
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