Estimating the sensitivity of the expanded OVRO-LWA array to cosmic-ray primary composition

Carvalho WR, Romero-Wolf A, Belov K, D'Addario L, Anderson M, Eastwood M, Hallinan G, Kocz J, Lamb J, Monroe R, Nelles A, Plant K (2021)

Publication Type: Conference contribution

Publication year: 2021

Journal

PoS - Proceedings of Science SISSA

Publisher: Sissa Medialab Srl

Book Volume: 358

Conference Proceedings Title: Proceedings of Science

Event location: Madison, WI, USA

Abstract

In this study we investigate the capability of the planned expansion of the Owens Valley Long Wavelength Array (OVRO-LWA) to perform radio based composition studies of the cosmic-ray flux between 50 PeV and 1 EeV. We use ZHAIRES simulations in conjunction with a method similar to the one developed by the LOFAR experiment, but that only uses radio data between 30 and 80 MHz, to reconstruct the depth of shower maximum Xmax. We found that the lower antenna densities away from the central core of the array lead to a decrease in the effective area for quality Xmax reconstructions of low zenith angle events, and that the asymmetry of the array layout creates the need for quality cuts that depend on arrival direction. We also investigate the dependence of Xmax uncertainties on shower energy and arrival direction and show that at 500 PeV it is possible to obtain Xmax uncertainties lower than 20 g/cm2 for the majority of arrival directions by using a set of simple cuts. For energies below 1017 eV, alternative reconstruction methods, such as the use of hierarchical beamforming to increase SNR or the use of arrival time measurements on the ground may be needed to maintain Xmax resolution at a desirable level.

Authors with CRIS profile

Anna Nelles Professur für Experimentelle Astroteilchenphysik, insbesondere Radionachweis von Neutrinos

Involved external institutions

California Institute of Technology (Caltech) US United States (USA) (US) Jet Propulsion Laboratory US United States (USA) (US)

How to cite

APA:

Carvalho, W.R., Romero-Wolf, A., Belov, K., D'Addario, L., Anderson, M., Eastwood, M.,... Plant, K. (2021). Estimating the sensitivity of the expanded OVRO-LWA array to cosmic-ray primary composition. In Proceedings of Science. Madison, WI, USA: Sissa Medialab Srl.

MLA:

Carvalho, W. R., et al. "Estimating the sensitivity of the expanded OVRO-LWA array to cosmic-ray primary composition." Proceedings of the 36th International Cosmic Ray Conference, ICRC 2019, Madison, WI, USA Sissa Medialab Srl, 2021.

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