Cosmic Ray Physics with the LOFAR Radio Telescope

T Winchen,S Thoudam,A Corstanje,L Rossetto,J R Hörandel,A Bonardi,J P Rachen,T N G Trinh,S Ter Veen,B M Hare,P Schellart,S Buitink,K Mulrey,O Scholten,H Falcke,P Mitra,A Nelles

doi:10.1088/1742-6596/1181/1/012020

Abstract

The LOFAR radio telescope is able to measure the radio emission from cosmic ray induced air showers with hundreds of individual antennas. This allows for precision testing of the emission mechanisms for the radio signal as well as determination of the depth of shower maximum Xmax, the shower observable most sensitive to the mass of the primary cosmic ray, to better than 20 g cm−2. With a densely instrumented circular area of roughly 320 m2, LOFAR is targeting for cosmic ray astrophysics in the energy range 1016–1018 eV. In this contribution we give an overview of the status, recent results, and future plans of cosmic ray detection with the LOFAR radio telescope.

Highlights

The detection of cosmic rays via the radio technique has matured from application in single engineering projects only to usage on large scales [1]
The Low Frequency Array (LOFAR) radio telescope is able to measure the radio emission from cosmic ray induced air showers with hundreds of individual antennas. This allows for precision testing of the emission mechanisms for the radio signal as well as determination of the depth of shower maximum Xmax, the shower observable most sensitive to the mass of the primary cosmic ray, to better than 20 g cm−2
With a densely instrumented circular area of roughly 320 m2, LOFAR is targeting for cosmic ray astrophysics in the energy range 1016–1018 eV

Summary

Introduction

The detection of cosmic rays via the radio technique has matured from application in single engineering projects only to usage on large scales [1]. The LOFAR radio telescope is able to measure the radio emission from cosmic ray induced air showers with hundreds of individual antennas. This allows for precision testing of the emission mechanisms for the radio signal as well as determination of the depth of shower maximum Xmax, the shower observable most sensitive to the mass of the primary cosmic ray, to better than 20 g cm−2.

Results

Conclusion