Estimation of the composition of ultra-high energy cosmic rays using the muon correlation method based on Yakutsk EAS array data

TL;DR

This paper introduces a new method for estimating the composition of ultra-high energy cosmic rays using muon correlation analysis based on Yakutsk array data, combining experimental and simulation results.

Contribution

It presents a novel muon correlation method for determining cosmic ray composition on an event-by-event basis at energies above 1.25×10^{19} eV.

Findings

Identified separate groups of nuclei and other primary particles.

Validated the method with Yakutsk EAS array data.

Provided insights into the mass composition of ultra-high energy cosmic rays.

Abstract

In this article a new method is proposed for estimating the mass composition of cosmic rays in individual events with energies above $1.25 \times 10^{19}$ eV. It is based on a joint analysis of experimental data and simulation results obtained using the QGSJet-II.04 model for muons with threshold energy $E_{\mu} = 1.0 \times \cos\theta$ GeV in air showers with zenith angles up to 60 degrees. The data from ground-based and underground scintillation detectors of the Yakutsk EAS array were used. Separate groups of nuclei and other primary particles were found.