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Opis: In this work we present the interpretation of the energy spectrum and mass composition data as measured by the Pierre Auger Collaboration above 6 × 10[sup]17 eV. We use an astrophysical model with two extragalactic source populations to model the hardening of the cosmic-ray flux at around 5 × 10[sup]18 eV (the so-called "ankle" feature) as a transition between these two components. We find our data to be well reproduced if sources above the ankle emit a mixed composition with a hard spectrum and a low rigidity cutoff. The component below the ankle is required to have a very soft spectrum and a mix of protons and intermediate-mass nuclei. The origin of this intermediate-mass component is not well constrained and it could originate from either Galactic or extragalactic sources. To the aim of evaluating our capability to constrain astrophysical models, we discuss the impact on the fit results of the main experimental systematic uncertainties and of the assumptions about quantities affecting the air shower development as well as the propagation and redshift distribution of injected ultra-high-energy cosmic rays (UHECRs).
Ključne besede: ultra-high-energy cosmic rays (UHECRs), Pierre Auger Observatory, extensive air showers, UHECR propagation, UHECR energy spectrum, UHECR mass composition
Objavljeno v RUNG: 18.08.2023; Ogledov: 177; Prenosov: 3
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Ključne besede: Pierre Auger Observatory, ultra-high energy cosmic rays (UHECR), UHECR hybrid detection, UHECR mass composition
Objavljeno v RUNG: 21.12.2020; Ogledov: 1791; Prenosov: 67
Celotno besedilo (749,44 KB)

Opis: Cosmic rays with energies above 10^18 eV, usually referred to as ultra-high energy cosmic rays (UHECR), have been a mystery from the moment they have been discovered. Although we have now more information on their extragalactic origin, their direct sources still remain hidden due to deviations caused by galactic magnetic fields. Another mystery, apart from their production sites, is their nature. Their mass composition, still uncertain at these energies, would give us a better understanding on their production, acceleration, propagation and capacity to produce extensive air showers in the Earth's atmosphere. Mass composition studies of UHECR try to determine their nature from the difference in development of their extensive air showers. In this work, observational parameters from the hybrid detection system of the Pierre Auger Observatory are used in a multivariate analysis to obtain the mass composition of UHECR. The multivariate analysis (MVA) approach combines a number of mass composition sensitive variables and tries to improve the separation between different UHECR particle masses. Simulated distributions of different primary particles are fitted to measured observable distributions in order to determine individual elemental fractions of the composition. When including observables from the surface detector, we find a discrepancy in the estimated mass composition between a mixed simulation sample and the Pierre Auger data. Our analysis results from the Pierre Auger data are to a great degree independent on hadronic interaction models. Although they differ at higher primary masses, the different models are more consistent, when combining fractions of oxygen and iron. Compared to previously published results, the systematic uncertainty from hadronic interaction models is roughly four times smaller. Our analysis reports a predominantly heavy composition of UHECR, with more than a 50% fraction of oxygen and iron at low energies. The composition is then becoming heavier with increasing energy, with a fraction of oxygen and iron above 80% at the highest energies.
Ključne besede: astroparticle physics, ultra-high energy cosmic rays, extensive air showers, mass composition, Pierre Auger Observatory, machine learning, multivariate analysis
Objavljeno v RUNG: 03.04.2019; Ogledov: 4266; Prenosov: 171
Celotno besedilo (17,53 MB)

Ključne besede: Pierre Auger Observatory, Ultra High Energy Cosmic Rays (UHECR), UHECR energy spectrum, UHECR mass composition
Objavljeno v RUNG: 27.06.2017; Ogledov: 3583; Prenosov: 0
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Ključne besede: Pierre Auger Observatory, ultra high energy cosmic rays (UHECR), UHECR hybrid detection technique, UHECR energy spectrum, UHECR mass composition, UHECR arrival directions
Objavljeno v RUNG: 20.06.2017; Ogledov: 4369; Prenosov: 392
Celotno besedilo (861,47 KB)