Statistical and systematic uncertainties in the event reconstruction and S(1000) determination by the Pierre Auger surface detector

TL;DR

This paper analyzes the statistical and systematic uncertainties in reconstructing cosmic ray events and estimating their energy using the Pierre Auger surface detector, focusing on the S(1000) parameter.

Contribution

It introduces a maximum likelihood method utilizing experimental data to improve event reconstruction and energy estimation in cosmic ray detection.

Findings

Quantifies uncertainties in core location and S(1000) measurement.

Proposes a data-driven maximum likelihood approach.

Discusses S(1000) as an energy estimator.

Abstract

We discuss the statistical and systematic uncertainties in the event reconstruction (core location, and determination of S(1000), i.e., the signal at a distance of 1000 m from the shower core) by the Pierre Auger surface detector for showers with zenith angle less than 60 degrees. The method is based on a maximum likelihood method where the reference lateral distribution function is obtained through the experimental data. We also discuss S(1000) as primary energy estimator.