# Hybrid method for identifying mass groups of primary cosmic rays in the joint operation of IACTs and wide angle Cherenkov timing arrays

## TL;DR

This paper presents a hybrid method combining imaging and timing data to effectively classify cosmic ray mass groups in the 200-500 TeV energy range, enhancing the capabilities of the TAIGA experiment.

## Contribution

The study introduces a novel hybrid approach for cosmic ray mass group identification using combined IACT and timing array data, demonstrating its effectiveness through simulations.

## Key findings

- Hybrid method effectively distinguishes cosmic ray mass groups.
- Simulation results show high classification accuracy.
- Method improves upon previous gamma/hadron separation techniques.

## Abstract

This work is a methodical study of another option of the hybrid method originally aimed at gamma/hadron separation in the TAIGA experiment. In the present paper this technique was performed to distinguish between different mass groups of cosmic rays in the energy range 200 TeV - 500 TeV. The study was based on simulation data of TAIGA prototype and included analysis of geometrical form of images produced by different nuclei in the IACT simulation as well as shower core parameters reconstructed using timing array simulation. We show that the hybrid method can be sufficiently effective to precisely distinguish between mass groups of cosmic rays.