Comparison of air fluorescence and ionization measurements of E.M. shower depth profiles: test of a UHECR detector technique

/ Authors

J.Belz, Z.Cao, P.Huentemeyer, C.C.H.Jui, K.Martens, J.Matthews, M.Maestas, J.Smith, P.Sokolsky, R.W.Springer

and 20 more authors

J.Thomas, S.Thomas, P.Chen, C.Field, C.Hast, R.Iverson, J.S.T.Ng, A.Odian, K.Reil, H.Vincke, D.Walz, A.Goldammer, D.Guest, G.Thomson, F.-Y.Chang, C.C.Chen, C-W.Chen, M.A.Huang, W.-Y.P.Hwang, G-L.Lin

/ Abstract

Measurements are reported on the ﬂuorescence of air as a function of depth in electromagnetic showers initiated by bunches of 28.5 GeV electrons. The light yield is compared with the expected and observed depth proﬁles of ionization in the showers. It validates the use of atmospheric ﬂuorescence proﬁles in measuring ultra high energy cosmic rays.

DOI: 10.1016/j.astropartphys.2005.11.004