Search for gamma-ray induced showers from the lateral distribution of electrons in EAS

TL;DR

This study investigates using the local age parameter of extensive air showers to distinguish gamma-ray initiated showers from hadron-initiated ones, potentially aiding surface detector experiments without muon measurement capabilities.

Contribution

It introduces the use of the local age parameter for gamma-hadron separation in EAS, based on detailed Monte Carlo simulations.

Findings

LAP can effectively differentiate gamma-ray and hadron showers.

Gamma-ray showers show distinct lateral electron distributions.

Method is useful for surface detectors lacking muon measurement.

Abstract

Distinguishing $\gamma$-ray and hadron initiated extensive air showers (EAS) based on lateral distribution of electrons has been studied by detailed Monte Carlo (MC) simulations. The possibility of using the local age parameter (LAP) of EAS for the gamma-hadron separation has been explored. It is found that separating $\gamma$-ray and hadron induced EAS on the basis of LAP can be useful for surface detector experiments those have no reliable muon measurement facilities.