English

Enhancement of the Yakutsk array by atmospheric Cherenkov telescopes to study cosmic rays above $10^{15}$ eV

Instrumentation and Methods for Astrophysics 2010-12-24 v2

Abstract

The aim of the Yakutsk array enhancement project is to create an instrument to study the highest-energy galactic cosmic rays (CRs) -- their sources, energy spectrum, and mass composition. Additionally, there will be unique capabilities for investigations in the transition region between galactic and extragalactic components of CRs. Using the well-developed imaging atmospheric Cherenkov telescope technique adapted to the energy region E>1015E>10^{15} eV, we plan to measure the longitudinal structure parameters of the shower, e.g., angular and temporal distributions of the Cherenkov signal related to XmaxX_{max} and the mass composition of CRs. The main advantages of the Yakutsk array, such as its multi-component measurements of extensive air showers, and model-independent CR energy estimation based on Cherenkov light measurements, will be inherited by the instrument to be created.

Keywords

Cite

@article{arxiv.1011.3902,
  title  = {Enhancement of the Yakutsk array by atmospheric Cherenkov telescopes to study cosmic rays above $10^{15}$ eV},
  author = {A. A. Ivanov and S. P. Knurenko and Z. E. Petrov and M. I. Pravdin and I. Ye. Sleptsov},
  journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:1011.3902},
  year   = {2010}
}

Comments

Proceedings of ECRS-2010, Turku; submitted to ASTRA (Astrophys. Space Sci. Trans)