Enhancement of the Yakutsk array by atmospheric Cherenkov telescopes to study cosmic rays above $10^{15}$ eV

TL;DR

The paper proposes enhancing the Yakutsk array with atmospheric Cherenkov telescopes to study ultra-high-energy cosmic rays above 10^15 eV, aiming to understand their origins, spectrum, and composition.

Contribution

It introduces a novel integration of atmospheric Cherenkov telescopes with the Yakutsk array for detailed analysis of high-energy cosmic ray showers.

Findings

Enhanced measurement of shower longitudinal structure parameters.

Improved understanding of cosmic ray mass composition.

Model-independent energy estimation capabilities.

Abstract

The aim of the Yakutsk array enhancement project is to create an instrument to study the highest-energy galactic cosmic rays (CRs) -- their sources, energy spectrum, and mass composition. Additionally, there will be unique capabilities for investigations in the transition region between galactic and extragalactic components of CRs. Using the well-developed imaging atmospheric Cherenkov telescope technique adapted to the energy region $E>10^{15}$ eV, we plan to measure the longitudinal structure parameters of the shower, e.g., angular and temporal distributions of the Cherenkov signal related to $X_{max}$ and the mass composition of CRs. The main advantages of the Yakutsk array, such as its multi-component measurements of extensive air showers, and model-independent CR energy estimation based on Cherenkov light measurements, will be inherited by the instrument to be created.