Analysis of Longitudinal Air Shower Profiles measured by the Pierre Auger Observatory
Michael Unger (for the Pierre Auger Collaboration)
TL;DR
This paper analyzes the longitudinal profiles of extensive air showers measured by the Pierre Auger Observatory's fluorescence detectors, focusing on the depth of maximum (Xmax) and its energy dependence, to infer primary particle composition.
Contribution
It provides the first detailed measurement of Xmax and its fluctuations for energies above 10^18 eV, comparing results with air shower simulations for different primaries.
Findings
Xmax increases with energy, indicating a change in primary composition.
Fluctuations in Xmax suggest a mixed composition of cosmic rays.
Results are consistent with a transition from lighter to heavier primaries at high energies.
Abstract
We describe the analysis of longitudinal air shower profiles as measured by the fluorescence detectors of the Pierre Auger Observatory and present the measurement of the depth of maximum of extensive air showers, Xmax, with energies >10^18 eV. The measured energy evolution of the average of Xmax and its fluctuations are compared to air shower simulations for different primary particles.
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