Scientific Reports (Oct 2023)

Observing cosmic-ray extensive air showers with a silicon imaging detector

  • Satoshi Kawanomoto,
  • Michitaro Koike,
  • Fraser Bradfield,
  • Toshihiro Fujii,
  • Yutaka Komiyama,
  • Satoshi Miyazaki,
  • Tomoki Morokuma,
  • Hitoshi Murayama,
  • Masamune Oguri,
  • Tsuyoshi Terai

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-42164-4
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 13, no. 1
pp. 1 – 8

Abstract

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Abstract Extensive air showers induced from high-energy cosmic rays provide a window into understanding the most energetic phenomena in the universe. We present a new method for observing these showers using the silicon imaging detector Subaru Hyper Suprime-Cam (HSC). This method has the advantage of being able to measure individual secondary particles. When paired with a surface detector array, silicon imaging detectors like Subaru HSC will be useful for studying the properties of extensive air showers in detail. The following report outlines the first results of observing extensive air showers with Subaru HSC. The potential for reconstructing the incident direction of primary cosmic rays is demonstrated and possible interdisciplinary applications are discussed.