Resolution of (heavy) primaries in ultra high energy cosmic rays
Abstract Measurements of ultra-high energy cosmic rays (UHECR) suggest a complex composition with significant contributions from heavy nuclei at the highest energies. We systematically explore how the selection and number of primary nuclei included in the analysis impact the inferred UHECR mass comp...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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SpringerOpen
2024-12-01
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| Series: | European Physical Journal C: Particles and Fields |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1140/epjc/s10052-024-13663-z |
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| author | Blaž Bortolato Jernej F. Kamenik Michele Tammaro |
| author_facet | Blaž Bortolato Jernej F. Kamenik Michele Tammaro |
| author_sort | Blaž Bortolato |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Measurements of ultra-high energy cosmic rays (UHECR) suggest a complex composition with significant contributions from heavy nuclei at the highest energies. We systematically explore how the selection and number of primary nuclei included in the analysis impact the inferred UHECR mass composition. Introducing a distance measure in the space of $$X_\textrm{max}$$ X max distribution moments, we demonstrate that limiting the analysis to a few primaries can introduce significant biases, particularly as observational data improves. We provide lists of primaries approximately equidistant in the new measure, which guaranty unbiased results at given statistical confidence. Additionally, we explore consistent inclusion of nuclei heavier than iron and up to plutonium, deriving first observational upper bounds on their contributions to UHECR with the Pierre Auger Open Data. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-563f3a616f004f9bbdef3fb0ba21b4d4 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1434-6052 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-12-01 |
| publisher | SpringerOpen |
| record_format | Article |
| series | European Physical Journal C: Particles and Fields |
| spelling | doaj-art-563f3a616f004f9bbdef3fb0ba21b4d42025-02-02T12:39:42ZengSpringerOpenEuropean Physical Journal C: Particles and Fields1434-60522024-12-01841211210.1140/epjc/s10052-024-13663-zResolution of (heavy) primaries in ultra high energy cosmic raysBlaž Bortolato0Jernej F. Kamenik1Michele Tammaro2Jožef Stefan InstituteJožef Stefan InstituteINFN Sezione di FirenzeAbstract Measurements of ultra-high energy cosmic rays (UHECR) suggest a complex composition with significant contributions from heavy nuclei at the highest energies. We systematically explore how the selection and number of primary nuclei included in the analysis impact the inferred UHECR mass composition. Introducing a distance measure in the space of $$X_\textrm{max}$$ X max distribution moments, we demonstrate that limiting the analysis to a few primaries can introduce significant biases, particularly as observational data improves. We provide lists of primaries approximately equidistant in the new measure, which guaranty unbiased results at given statistical confidence. Additionally, we explore consistent inclusion of nuclei heavier than iron and up to plutonium, deriving first observational upper bounds on their contributions to UHECR with the Pierre Auger Open Data.https://doi.org/10.1140/epjc/s10052-024-13663-z |
| spellingShingle | Blaž Bortolato Jernej F. Kamenik Michele Tammaro Resolution of (heavy) primaries in ultra high energy cosmic rays European Physical Journal C: Particles and Fields |
| title | Resolution of (heavy) primaries in ultra high energy cosmic rays |
| title_full | Resolution of (heavy) primaries in ultra high energy cosmic rays |
| title_fullStr | Resolution of (heavy) primaries in ultra high energy cosmic rays |
| title_full_unstemmed | Resolution of (heavy) primaries in ultra high energy cosmic rays |
| title_short | Resolution of (heavy) primaries in ultra high energy cosmic rays |
| title_sort | resolution of heavy primaries in ultra high energy cosmic rays |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1140/epjc/s10052-024-13663-z |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT blazbortolato resolutionofheavyprimariesinultrahighenergycosmicrays AT jernejfkamenik resolutionofheavyprimariesinultrahighenergycosmicrays AT micheletammaro resolutionofheavyprimariesinultrahighenergycosmicrays |