Parametrization for Cherenkov light lateral distribution function in Extensive Air Showers

TL;DR

This paper presents parametrizations of Cherenkov light lateral distribution functions in Extensive Air Showers, enabling improved primary particle identification and energy estimation around the cosmic ray knee.

Contribution

It provides new approximating functions for Cherenkov light LDFs based on CORSIKA simulations for different primary particles and angles.

Findings

Parametrizations match measured data from Tunka-25 array.

Method allows primary particle identification.

Energy estimation around the knee is feasible.

Abstract

The simulation of the Cherenkov light lateral distribution function (LDF) in Extensive Air Showers (EAS) was perfomed with the CORSIKA code in the energy range 10^13-10^16 eV for configuration of the Tunka-25 EAS array. On the basis of this simulation we obtained sets of approximating functions for primary protons, iron nuclei and gamma-quanta for zenith angles Theta<=20. The comparison of the calculated Cherenkov light LDF with that measured with the Tunka-25 array has shown an opportunity of primary particle identification and definition of its energy around the "knee".