First results of the Standalone Antenna Array of the CODALEMA Radio Detection Experiment

TL;DR

This paper reports on the initial results from the upgraded CODALEMA experiment, which now includes a standalone antenna array aimed at improving radio detection of ultra-high-energy cosmic rays.

Contribution

Introduction of a new standalone antenna array for CODALEMA, enhancing its capability to study extensive air showers from cosmic rays.

Findings

First results from the standalone array demonstrate promising detection capabilities.

The upgraded setup aims to address key uncertainties in radio detection of air showers.

Initial data supports the potential of radio detection as a reliable UHECR observation method.

Abstract

CODALEMA is one of the pioneer experiments dedicated to the recent field of cosmic ray radio detection. It is located at the radio observatory of Nancay (France). The detector setup combined until recently a ground particle detector and an array of active dipole antennas covering a total area of 0.25 km^2. The experiment is now going through a major upgrade with the deployment around the existing apparatus of a Standalone Antenna Array, which consists of 60 standalone new generation radio-detection stations and which will cover an area of 1.5 km^2 (33 stations deployed over the spring of 2011 and 27 stations to be deployed in late 2011). This new setup is intended to tackle the remaining unknowns of extensive air shower radio detection so as to make this technique a reliable and mature tool for Ultra High Energy Cosmic Ray (UHECR) physics. The latest results from the original CODALEMA array are discussed together with the first results of the Standalone Antenna Array.