Thermal neutron flux produced by EAS at various altitudes

TL;DR

This paper uses Monte-Carlo simulations to analyze the hadronic component and neutron flux in Extensive Air Showers at various altitudes, aiding in optimal site selection for the PRISMA experiment.

Contribution

It presents a simulation-based study of neutron flux in EAS at different altitudes, validated by experimental data from the ProtoPRISMA array.

Findings

Neutron flux varies with altitude, influencing detector placement.

Simulations closely match experimental measurements at sea level.

Optimal altitude for EAS observation is identified.

Abstract

The results of Monte-Carlo simulations of Extensive Air Shower are presented to show the difference of hadronic component content at various altitudes with the aim to choose an optimal altitude for the PRISMA-like experiment. CORSIKA program for EAS simulations with QGSJET and GHEISHA models was used to calculate the number of hadrons reaching the observational level inside a ring of 50 m radius around the EAS axis. Then the number of neutrons produced by the hadronic component was calculated using an empirical relationship between the two components. We have tested the results with the ProtoPRISMA array at sea level, and recorded neutrons are close to the simulation results.