Geant4 simulations of radio signals from particle showers for the SLAC T-510 experiment

TL;DR

This paper presents Geant4 simulations of radio signals from particle showers in the SLAC T-510 experiment, validating the superposition of transverse current and Askaryan effects using established formalisms.

Contribution

It demonstrates detailed Geant4 simulations incorporating experimental setup parameters to test and confirm the combined radio emission mechanisms in a controlled lab environment.

Findings

Radio signals explained by superposition of transverse current and Askaryan effects

Simulation results align with experimental observations

Validation of the end-point and ZHS formalisms in a lab setting

Abstract

The SLAC T-510 experiment was designed to reproduce the physics of radio emission from air showers caused by ultra-high energy cosmic rays in a controlled lab experiment with the goal to test established formalisms for simulation of radio emission physics: the "end-point" formalism and the "ZHS" formalism. Simulation results derived with these formalisms can be explained by a superposition of magnetically induced transverse current radiation and the Askaryan (charge-excess) effect. Here, we present results of Geant4 simulations of the experiment with both formalisms, taking into account the details of the experimental setup (beam energy, target geometry and material, magnetic field configuration, and refraction effects) to test this hypothesis