Abstract

ALICE is one of the four main experiments of the LHC at CERN. Located 40 meters underground, with 30 m of overburden rock, it can also operate to detect muons produced by cosmic-ray interactions in the atmosphere. An analysis of the data collected with cosmic-ray triggers from 2010 to 2013, corresponding to about 31 days of live time, is presented. Making use of the ability of the Time Projection Chamber (TPC) to track large numbers of charged particles, a special emphasis is given to the study of muon bundles, and in particular to events with high-muon density.

Highlights

  • The study of atmospheric muons using collider experiments started during the era of the Large Electron Positron collider (LEP) by ALEPH, DELPHI and L3 collaborations

  • The main result reported by the LEP experiments in the area of cosmic-ray physics was the observation of muon-bundle events that could not be described within the existing hadronic interaction models

  • A mixed composition with an increasing average mass of the primary cosmic ray at higher energies is suggested by the comparison of the atmospheric muon-multiplicity distribution of data with

Read more

Summary

Introduction

The study of atmospheric muons using collider experiments started during the era of the Large Electron Positron collider (LEP) by ALEPH, DELPHI and L3 collaborations. The main result reported by the LEP experiments in the area of cosmic-ray physics was the observation of muon-bundle events that could not be described within the existing hadronic interaction models. A development of these programs is possible at the LHC, where experiments operate for many years, with the possibility of recording a large amount of cosmic-ray data. In this context, the main purpose of ALICE is the study of beam-induced collisions, the experiment can operate to detect muons produced by cosmic-ray interactions with the atmosphere [2]. The muons collected in ALICE are created in an extensive air shower (EAS) developing after the interaction of the primary cosmic ray with the nuclei of the atmosphere. The EAS observed by ALICE with muon multiplicity larger than four, are due to primaries with energy E > 1014 eV

Experimental setup
Reconstruction of atmospheric muons
Track reconstruction
Multiplicity distribution of atmospheric muons
Monte Carlo study of MMD
Conclusions

Talk to us

Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have

Schedule a call

Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.