First Experimental Characterization of Microwave Emission from Cosmic Ray Air Showers
R. Smida, F. Werner, R. Engel, J.C. Arteaga-Velazquez, K. Bekk, M., Bertaina, J. Bluemer, H. Bozdog, I.M. Brancus, A. Chiavassa, F. Cossavella,, F. Di Pierro, P. Doll, B. Fuchs, D. Fuhrmann, C. Grupen, A. Haungs, D. Heck,, J.R. Hoerandel, D. Huber, T. Huege, K.-H. Kampert
TL;DR
This paper presents the first direct measurements of microwave radio emission from cosmic ray air showers, demonstrating microwave radiation as a new method for studying high-energy cosmic rays.
Contribution
It provides the first experimental characterization of microwave emission from extensive air showers, confirming its potential for cosmic ray research.
Findings
Microwave signals detected from over 30 air showers above 3×10^16 eV.
Emission is mainly forward-directed and polarized in the GHz range.
Microwave radiation can be used to study air showers above 10^17 eV.
Abstract
We report the first direct measurement of the overall characteristics of microwave radio emission from extensive air showers. Using a trigger provided by the KASCADE-Grande air shower array, the signals of the microwave antennas of the CROME (Cosmic-Ray Observation via Microwave Emission) experiment have been read out and searched for signatures of radio emission by high-energy air showers in the GHz frequency range. Microwave signals have been detected for more than 30 showers with energies above 3*10^16 eV. The observations presented in this Letter are consistent with a mainly forward-directed and polarised emission process in the GHz frequency range. The measurements show that microwave radiation offers a new means of studying air showers at energies above 10^17 eV.
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