Digital radio detection of cosmic rays: achievements, status and perspectives

TL;DR

Radio detection of cosmic rays has advanced significantly over the past decade, with large-scale installations, improved understanding of radio signals, and promising methods for determining cosmic ray parameters, though some limitations remain.

Contribution

This paper reviews the progress in radio detection of cosmic rays, highlighting achievements, current status, and future perspectives in the field.

Findings

Radio detection experiments now cover several km^2 with over a hundred antennas.

Radio signals provide accurate measurements of air shower geometry and energy.

Promising methods are emerging for determining the mass of primary cosmic rays.

Abstract

Over the past decade, radio detection of cosmic rays has matured from small-scale prototype experiments to installations spanning several km$^2$ with more than a hundred antennas. The physics of the radio signal is well understood and simulations and measurements are in good agreement. We have learned how to extract important cosmic ray parameters such as the geometry of the air shower and the energy of the primary particle from the radio signal, and have developed very promising approaches to also determine the mass of the primary particles. At the same time, limitations have become increasingly clear. I review the progress made in the past decade and provide a personal view on further potential for future development.