Measurement of the Muon content of Extensive Air Showers with the Pierre Auger Observatory

TL;DR

This paper presents measurements of muon content in extensive air showers using Pierre Auger Observatory data, revealing a muon deficit compared to current models at ultra-high energies.

Contribution

It introduces multiple methods for estimating muons in air showers and compares results to hadronic interaction models, highlighting discrepancies.

Findings

Observed muon deficit relative to models

Multiple estimation methods validated

Implications for hadronic interaction models

Abstract

Several methods developed within the Pierre Auger Collaboration for the estimation of the muonic component of the Extensive Air Showers observed in the surface Cherenkov detectors are described. The results derived from the data show a deficit of muons predicted by the current hadronic interactions models at ultra-high energies.