Energy Spectra of Cosmic-Ray Protons and Nuclei Measured in the NUCLEON Experiment Using a New Method

Astronomy Reports - Some results of studies of cosmic rays obtained during the NUCLEON space experiment in 2015–2017 are presented. This experiment was intended for direct measurements of the...     

Measurement of air-fluorescence-light yield induced by an electromagnetic shower

For most of the ultra-high-energy cosmic ray (UHECR) experiments and projects (HiRes, AUGER, TA, JEM-EUSO, TUS, …), the detection technique of extensive air showers is based, at least, on the measurement of the air-fluorescence-induced signal. The knowledge of the fluorescence-light yield (FLY) is of paramount importance for the UHECR energy reconstruction. The MACFLY experiment was designed to perform absolute measurements of the air FLY and to study its properties. Here, we report the result of measurement of dry-air FLY induced by 50 GeV electromagnetic showers as a function of the shower age and as a function of the pressure. The experiment was performed at CERN using a SPS-electron-test-beam line. The result shows the air FLY is proportional to the energy deposited in air (E_d). The ratio FLY/E_d and its pressure dependence remain constant independently of shower age, and more generally, independently of the excitation source used (single-electron track or air shower).