Muon number reconstruction with IceTop using a two-component lateral distribution function
International Cosmic Ray Conference, pp. 437
Abstract
The IceCube Neutrino Observatory, situated at the geographic South Pole, comprises both a surface component, IceTop, and a deep in-ice component. This unique setup allows for simultaneous measurements of low-energy ($\sim \rm{GeV}$) and high-energy ($\gtrsim 400\,\rm{GeV}$) muons generated in cosmic-ray air showers. The correlation between these low- and high-energy muons can serve as a valuable tool not only for analyzing cosmic-ray composition but also for tests of hadronic interaction models. However, IceTop does not feature dedicated muon detectors, making it challenging to measure the low-energy muon component for individual air showers. For this reason, a two-component lateral distribution function is utilized for the simultaneous reconstruction of the primary energy and low-energy muon number on a single-event basis. This is achieved by combining analytical descriptions of the electromagnetic and muon lateral distributions. In this work, the underlying principles of this method will be discussed, as well as its capability for muon number reconstruction using the hadronic interaction models Sibyll 2.1, QGSJet-II.04, and EPOS-LHC.
Authors 97
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Karlsruhe Institute of Technology · RWTH Aachen University
Affiliation as printed
III. Physikalisches Institut , RWTH Aachen University , D-52056 Aachen , Germany
Institute for Astroparticle Physics , Karlsruhe Institute of Technology
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Affiliation as printed
Université Libre de Bruxelles , Science Faculty CP230 , B-1050 Brussels , Belgium
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University of California, Berkeley
Affiliation as printed
Dept. of Physics , University of California , Berkeley , CA 94720 , USA
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Affiliation as printed
Fakultät für Physik & Astronomie , Ruhr-Universität Bochum , D-44780 Bochum , Germany
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Karlsruhe Institute of Technology · RWTH Aachen University
Affiliation as printed
III. Physikalisches Institut , RWTH Aachen University , D-52056 Aachen , Germany
Institute for Astroparticle Physics , Karlsruhe Institute of Technology
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Georgia Institute of Technology
Affiliation as printed
School of Physics and Center for Relativistic Astrophysics , Georgia Institute of Technology , Atlanta , GA 30332 , USA
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Affiliation as printed
Department of Physics , University of Adelaide , Adelaide , 5005 , Australia
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Karlsruhe Institute of Technology · RWTH Aachen University
Affiliation as printed
III. Physikalisches Institut , RWTH Aachen University , D-52056 Aachen , Germany
Institute for Astroparticle Physics , Karlsruhe Institute of Technology
-
Affiliation as printed
Université Libre de Bruxelles , Science Faculty CP230 , B-1050 Brussels , Belgium
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Karlsruhe Institute of Technology · RWTH Aachen University
Affiliation as printed
III. Physikalisches Institut , RWTH Aachen University , D-52056 Aachen , Germany
Institute for Astroparticle Physics , Karlsruhe Institute of Technology
-
Karlsruhe Institute of Technology · RWTH Aachen University
Affiliation as printed
III. Physikalisches Institut , RWTH Aachen University , D-52056 Aachen , Germany
Institute for Astroparticle Physics , Karlsruhe Institute of Technology
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Southern University and Agricultural and Mechanical College
Affiliation as printed
Dept. of Physics , Southern University , Baton Rouge , LA 70813 , USA
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