The Air Microwave Yield (AMY) experiment - A laboratory measurement of the microwave emission from extensive air showers

TL;DR

The AMY experiment investigates microwave emissions from air showers using laboratory measurements with electron beams to inform future cosmic ray detection methods.

Contribution

This study provides the first laboratory measurements of microwave emission yield and spectrum from air-shower secondary electrons in controlled conditions.

Findings

Initial measurements of microwave emission yield

Spectrum characterization between 1 and 20 GHz

Experimental setup demonstration

Abstract

The AMY experiment aims to measure the microwave bremsstrahlung radiation (MBR) emitted by air-showers secondary electrons accelerating in collisions with neutral molecules of the atmosphere. The measurements are performed using a beam of 510 MeV electrons at the Beam Test Facility (BTF) of Frascati INFN National Laboratories. The goal of the AMY experiment is to measure in laboratory conditions the yield and the spectrum of the GHz emission in the frequency range between 1 and 20 GHz. The final purpose is to characterise the process to be used in a next generation detectors of ultra-high energy cosmic rays. A description of the experimental setup and the first results are presented.