Measurement of Radio Emission from Extensive Air Showers with LOPES

TL;DR

This paper discusses a novel method for detecting extensive air showers through radio wave measurements, presenting results from the LOPES experiment that analyze radio emission dependence on shower parameters and explore new antenna and triggering technologies.

Contribution

It introduces a new radio detection method for air showers, reports pioneering experimental results, and develops innovative antenna and real-time trigger algorithms.

Findings

Radio emission intensity correlates with shower energy and angle.

LOPES successfully detected radio signals from air showers.

New antenna designs improve detection capabilities.

Abstract

A new method is explored to detect extensive air showers: the measurement of radio waves emitted during the propagation of the electromagnetic shower component in the magnetic field of the Earth. Recent results of the pioneering experiment LOPES are discussed. It registers radio signals in the frequency range between 40 and 80 MHz. The intensity of the measured radio emission is investigated as a function of different shower parameters, such as shower energy, angle of incidence, and distance to shower axis. In addition, new antenna types are developed in the framework of LOPES-Star and new methods are explored to realize a radio self-trigger algorithm in real time.