NICHE: The Non-Imaging CHErenkov Array

TL;DR

NICHE introduces a non-imaging Cherenkov array designed to improve cosmic ray nuclear composition measurements around the Knee energy region by cross-calibrating with fluorescence detectors.

Contribution

The paper presents a novel array of non-imaging Cherenkov counters that enhances cosmic ray composition measurement accuracy and calibration methods.

Findings

Potential for more accurate nuclear composition measurements.

Effective cross-calibration with fluorescence detectors.

Improved understanding of cosmic ray energy spectrum.

Abstract

The accurate measurement of the Cosmic Ray (CR) nuclear composition around and above the Knee (~ 10^15.5 eV) has been difficult due to uncertainties inherent to the measurement techniques and/or dependence on hadronic Monte Carlo simulation models required to interpret the data. Measurement of the Cherenkov air shower signal, calibrated with air fluorescence measurements, offers a methodology to provide an accurate measurement of the nuclear composition evolution over a large energy range. NICHE will use an array of widely-spaced, non-imaging Cherenkov counters to measure the amplitude and time-spread of the air shower Cherenkov signal to extract CR nuclear composition measurements and to cross-calibrate the Cherenkov energy and composition measurements with TA/TALE fluorescence and surface detector measurements.