Geometrical reconstruction with the High Resolution Fly's Eye prototype cosmic ray detector

Abstract

The High Resolution Fly's Eye EHE cosmic ray detector (HiRes) was operated for over two years (prior to November 1996) in a two-site prototype configuration. This paper describes the development and testing of an event reconstruction method for extensive air showers (EAS) viewed in coincidence by both sites (stereo viewing). The reconstruction accuracy was directly measured through the use of a UV laser mounted on a telescope that generated airshower-like events with known geometries. For events observed with stereo opening angles greater than about 10° (most events) the median error in the reconstructed laser direction was 0.4° with 95% of events being reconstructed with errors of less than 0.9° (which degrade to 0.8° and 1.8°, respectively, for smaller opening angles). A limited investigation of the likely performance of the HiRes Stage 1.0 detector was undertaken. Reconstruction accuracy is likely to be only slightly degraded compared with the prototype results.