Parameterization of Muon Production Profiles in the Atmosphere

TL;DR

This paper develops a parameterization model for muon production profiles in the atmosphere, accounting for cosmic-ray properties and atmospheric conditions, to improve predictions of muon bundle characteristics for underground detectors.

Contribution

It introduces a new parameterization of muon production profiles based on simulations, incorporating primary cosmic-ray and atmospheric variables, enhancing the understanding of muon bundle properties.

Findings

Parameterization accurately models muon production profiles.

Seasonal variations in muon bundle properties are quantified.

Model aids in interpreting underground cosmic-ray measurements.

Abstract

Production of high-energy muons in cosmic-ray air showers, relevant for underground detectors, depends on the properties of the primary cosmic ray as well as the atmospheric temperature through the competition between decay and re-interaction of charged pions and kaons. We present a parameterization of muon production profiles based on simulations as a function of the primary cosmic-ray energy, mass and zenith angle, the minimum energy for a muon to reach the detector and an atmospheric temperature profile. We illustrate how this can be used to calculate muon bundle properties such as multiplicity and transverse size and their seasonal variations in the context of underground measurements in coincidence with a surface detector which fixes the primary cosmic-ray energy.