EPJ Web of Conferences (Jan 2019)

A new parametrization for the radio emission of air showers applied to LOFAR data

  • Plaisier I.,
  • Bonardi A.,
  • Buitink S.,
  • Corstanje A.,
  • Falcke H.,
  • Hare B.M.,
  • Hörandel J.R.,
  • de Jong S.,
  • Mitra P.,
  • Mulrey K.,
  • Nelles A.,
  • Rachen J.,
  • Rossetto L.,
  • Schellart P.,
  • Scholten O.,
  • ter Veen S.,
  • Thoudam S.,
  • Trinh T.N.G.,
  • Winchen T.

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1051/epjconf/201921603011
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 216
p. 03011

Abstract

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The energy and mass composition of cosmic rays influence how the energy density of the radio emission of air showers is distributed on the ground. A precise description of the radio profiles can, therefore, be used to reconstruct the properties of the primary cosmic rays. Here, such a description is presented, using a separate treatment of the two radio-emission mechanisms, the geomagnetic effect and the charge excess effect. The model is parametrized as a function that depends only on the shower parameters, allowing for a precise reconstruction of the properties of the primary cosmic rays. This model is applied to cosmic-ray events measured with LOFAR and it is capable of reconstructing the properties of air showers correctly.