Impact of a new Cherenkov light parameterisation on the reconstruction of shower profiles from Auger hybrid data

TL;DR

This paper investigates how a new analytical model of Cherenkov light production affects the accuracy of reconstructing shower profiles from Auger hybrid data, emphasizing the importance of accounting for Cherenkov light in fluorescence measurements.

Contribution

It introduces a novel analytical parameterisation of Cherenkov light production and assesses its impact on shower profile reconstruction in Auger data.

Findings

Improved accuracy in shower profile reconstruction.

Significant differences compared to previous Cherenkov models.

Enhanced understanding of Cherenkov light contribution in fluorescence detection.

Abstract

The light signal measured by fluorescence telescopes receives - strongly depending on the shower geometry with respect to the detector - a non-negligible contribution from additionally produced Cherenkov light. This Cherenkov contribution has to be accounted for to determine primary parameters properly. In comparison to the previous ansatz used by other experiments, the impact of a new analytical description of Cherenkov light production in EAS on the Auger event reconstruction is investigated.