arXiv subjects

N. N. Kalmykov

Publications and source records attributed to N. N. Kalmykov.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2024

Four years of wide-field search for nanosecond optical transients with the TAIGA-HiSCORE Cherenkov array

It has been previously demonstrated [Panov et al. Physics of Atomic Nuclei 84(2021)1037] that the TAIGA-HiSCORE Cherenkov array, originally built for cosmic ray physics and ultrahigh-energy gamma-ray astronomy studies using the extensive air shower method, can be used in conventional optical astronomy for wide-field searches for rare nanosecond optical transients of astrophysical origin. The FOV of the facility is on the scale of 1~ster, and it is capable of detecting very rare transients in the visible light range with fluxes greater than approximately 3000~quanta/m$^2$/10~ns (10~ns is the apparatus integration time) and pulse durations of 10\,ns. Among the potential sources of distant nanosecond optical transients are the evaporation of primary black holes, magnetic reconnection in the accretion disks of black holes, and signals from distant lasers of extraterrestrial civilizations. The paper describes the methods and results of the search for optical transients using the TAIGA-HiSCORE Cherenkov array from 2018 to 2022 (four winter seasons of data collection). No reliable astrophysical candidates for optical transients were found. We set an upper bound on the flux of the searched events as $\sim 1\times10^{-3}$\,events/ster/h.

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arXiv2022

Muon lateral distribution function of extensive air showers: results of the Sydney University Giant Air-shower Recorder versus modern Monte-Carlo simulations

The Sydney University Giant Air-shower Recorder (SUGAR) measured the muon component of extensive air showers with a unique array of muon detectors. The SUGAR data allow us to reconstruct the empirical dependence of muon density on the distance from the axis of the shower, the lateral distribution function (LDF). We compare the shape of this function with the predictions of hadronic-interaction models, QGSJET-II-04 and EPOS-LHC, in the energy range 10^17.6 - 10^18.6 eV. We find a difference between the observed data and the simulation: the observed muon density falls faster with the increased core distance than it is predicted in simulations. This observation may be important for interpretation of the energy-dependent discrepancies in the simulated and observed numbers of muons in air showers, known as the "muon excess".

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arXiv2021

Search for Astrophysical Nanosecond Optical Transients with TAIGA-HiSCORE Array

A wide-angle Cerenkov array TAIGA-HiSCORE (FOV $\sim$0.6 sr), was originally created as a part of TAIGA installation for high-energy gamma-ray astronomy and cosmic ray physics. Array now consist on nearly 100 optical stations on the area of 1 km$^2$. Due to high accuracy and stability ($\sim$1 ns) of time synchronization of the optical stations the accuracy of EAS arrival direction reconstruction is reached 0.1$^\mathrm{o}$. It was proven that the array can also be used to search for nanosecond events of the optical range. The report discusses the method of searching for optical transients using the HiSCORE array and demonstrates its performance on a real example of detecting signals from an artificial Earth satellite. The search for this short flares in the HiSCORE data of the winter season 2018--2019 is carried out. One candidate for double repeater has been detected, but the estimated probability of random simulation of such a transient by background EAS events is not less than 10%, which does not allow us to say that the detected candidate corresponds to a real astrophysical transient. An upper bound on the frequency of optical spikes with flux density of more than $10^{-4} \mathrm{erg/s/cm}^2$ and a duration of more than 5\,ns is established as $\sim 2 \times 10^{-3}$ events/sr/hour.

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arXiv2021

Relativistic dust grains: a new subject of research with orbital fluorescence detectors

TUS (Tracking Ultraviolet Set-up) was the world's first orbital detector aimed at testing the principle of observing ultra-high energy cosmic rays (UHECRs) with a space-based fluorescence telescope. TUS was launched into orbit on 28th April 2016 as a part of the scientific payload of the Lomonosov satellite, and its mission continued for 1.5 years. During this time, its exposure reached $\sim1550$ km$^2$ sr yr for primary energy $\gtrsim400$ EeV, and a number of extensive air showers-like events were registered. The shape and kinematics of the signal in these events closely resembled those expected from UHECRs but amplitudes of the signal and some other features were in contradiction with this assumption. A detailed analysis of one of EAS-like events (TUS161003) revealed that a primary cosmic ray would need to have an energy $\gtrsim1$ ZeV in order to produce a light curve of the observed amplitude, which is incompatible with the cosmic ray spectrum obtained with ground-based experiments. More than this, the slant depth of the shower maximum be the signal produced by a cosmic particle, was estimated as $\lesssim500$ g/cm$^2$, which corresponds to cosmic rays around 1 PeV. We present a preliminary discussion of a hypothesis that the TUS161003 event and perhaps some other bright EAS-like events could be produced by relativistic dust grains, which were considered a possible component of the cosmic ray flux beyond the GZK cut-off some time ago.

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arXiv2021

The primary cosmic-ray energy spectrum measured with the Tunka-133 array

The EAS Cherenkov light array Tunka-133, with $\sim$ 3 km$^2$ geometric area, is taking data since 2009.The array permits a detailed study of energy spectrum and mass composition of cosmic rays in the energy range from $6\cdot 10^{15}$ to $10^{18}$ eV. We describe the methods of time and amplitude calibration of the array and the methods of EAS parameters reconstruction. We present the all-particle energy spectrum, based on 7 seasons of operation.

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arXiv2019

Report on Tests and Measurements of Hadronic Interaction Properties with Air Showers

We present a summary of recent tests and measurements of hadronic interaction properties with air showers. This report has a special focus on muon density measurements. Several experiments reported deviations between simulated and recorded muon densities in extensive air showers, while others reported no discrepancies. We combine data from eight leading air shower experiments to cover shower energies from PeV to tens of EeV. Data are combined using the z-scale, a unified reference scale based on simulated air showers. Energy-scales of experiments are cross-calibrated. Above 10 PeV, we find a muon deficit in simulated air showers for each of the six considered hadronic interaction models. The deficit is increasing with shower energy. For the models EPOS-LHC and QGSJet-II.04, the slope is found significant at 8 sigma.

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arXiv2018

Muon content of extensive air showers: comparison of the energy spectra obtained by the Sydney University Giant Air-shower Recorder and by the Pierre Auger Observatory

The Sydney University Giant Air-shower Recorder (SUGAR) measured the energy spectrum of ultra-high-energy cosmic rays reconstructed from muon-detector readings, while the Pierre Auger Observatory, looking at the same Southern sky, uses the calorimetric fluorescence method for the same purpose. Comparison of their two spectra allows us to reconstruct the empirical dependence of the number of muons in the shower on the primary energy for energies between $10^{17}$ and $10^{18.5}$ eV. We compare this dependence with the predictions of hadronic interaction models \mbox{QGSJET-II-04} and \mbox{EPOS-LHC}. The empirically determined number of muons with energies above 0.75 GeV exceeds the simulated one by the factors $\sim$1.67 and $\sim$1.28 for $10^{17}$ eV proton and iron primaries, respectively. The muon excess grows moderately with the primary energy, increasing by an additional factor of $\sim 1.2$ for $10^{18.5}$ eV primaries.

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arXiv2017

The TUS detector of extreme energy cosmic rays on board the Lomonosov satellite

The origin and nature of extreme energy cosmic rays (EECRs), which have energies above the 50 EeV, the Greisen-Zatsepin-Kuzmin (GZK) energy limit, is one of the most interesting and complicated problems in modern cosmic-ray physics. Existing ground-based detectors have helped to obtain remarkable results in studying cosmic rays before and after the GZK limit, but have also produced some contradictions in our understanding of cosmic ray mass composition. Moreover, each of these detectors covers only a part of the celestial sphere, which poses problems for studying the arrival directions of EECRs and identifying their sources. As a new generation of EECR space detectors, TUS (Tracking Ultraviolet Set-up), KLYPVE and JEM-EUSO, are intended to study the most energetic cosmic-ray particles, providing larger, uniform exposures of the entire celestial sphere. The TUS detector, launched on board the Lomonosov satellite on April 28, 2016, from Vostochny Cosmodrome in Russia, is the first of these. It employs a single-mirror optical system and a photomultiplier tube matrix as a photo-detector and will test the fluorescent method of measuring EECRs from space. Utilizing the Earth's atmosphere as a huge calorimeter, it is expected to detect EECRs with energies above 100 EeV. It will also be able to register slower atmospheric transient events: atmospheric fluorescence in electrical discharges of various types including precipitating electrons escaping the magnetosphere and from the radiation of meteors passing through the atmosphere. We describe the design of the TUS detector and present results of different ground-based tests and simulations.

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arXiv2017

First results from the TUS orbital detector in the extensive air shower mode

TUS (Tracking Ultraviolet Set-up), the first orbital detector of extreme energy cosmic rays (EECRs), those with energies above 50 EeV, was launched into orbit on April 28, 2016, as a part of the Lomonosov satellite scientific payload. The main aim of the mission is to test a technique of registering fluorescent and Cherenkov radiation of extensive air showers generated by EECRs in the atmosphere with a space telescope. We present preliminary results of its operation in a mode dedicated to registering extensive air showers in the period from August 16, 2016, to November 4, 2016. No EECRs have been conclusively identified in the data yet, but the diversity of ultraviolet emission in the atmosphere was found to be unexpectedly rich. We discuss typical examples of data obtained with TUS and their possible origin. The data is important for obtaining more accurate estimates of the nocturnal ultraviolet glow of the atmosphere, necessary for successful development of more advanced orbital EECR detectors including those of the KLYPVE (K-EUSO) and JEM-EUSO missions.

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arXiv2017

Search for extreme energy cosmic ray candidates in the TUS orbital experiment data

TUS (Track Ultraviolet Setup) is the first space experiment aimed to check the possibility of registering extreme energy cosmic rays (EECRs) at E>50 EeV by measuring the fluorescence signal of extensive air showers in the atmosphere. The detector operates as a part of the scientific payload of the Lomonosov satellite for more than a year. We describe an algorithm of searching for EECR events in the TUS data and briefly discuss a number of candidates selected by formal criteria.

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arXiv2017

No muon excess in extensive air showers at 100-500 PeV primary energy: EAS-MSU results

Some discrepancies have been reported between observed and simulated muon content of extensive air showers: the number of observed muons exceeded the expectations in HiRes-MIA, Yakutsk and Pierre Auger Observatory data. Here, we analyze the data of the Moscow State University Extensive Air Shower (EAS-MSU) array on E_mu>~10 GeV muons in showers caused by ~(10^17-10^18) eV primary particles and demonstrate that they agree with simulations (QGSJET-II-04 hadronic interaction model) once the primary composition inferred from the surface-detector data is assumed.

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arXiv2017

First results of the Lomonosov TUS and GRB experiments

On April 28, 2016, the Lomonosov satellite, equipped with a number of scientific instruments, was launched into orbit. Here we present briefly some of the results obtained with the first orbital telescope of extreme energy cosmic rays TUS and by a group of detectors aimed at multi-messenger observations of gamma-ray bursts.

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arXiv2017

Constraints on the flux of $\sim (10^{16} - 10^{17.5})$ eV cosmic photons from the EAS-MSU muon data

Results of the search for $\sim (10^{16} - 10^{17.5})$ eV primary cosmic-ray photons with the data of the Moscow State University (MSU) Extensive Air Shower (EAS) array are reported. The full-scale reanalysis of the data with modern simulations of the installation does not confirm previous indications of the excess of gamma-ray candidate events. Upper limits on the corresponding gamma-ray flux are presented. The limits are the most stringent published ones at energies $\sim 10^{17}$ eV.

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arXiv2016

Full Monte-Carlo description of the Moscow State University Extensive Air Shower experiment

The Moscow State University Extensive Air Shower (EAS-MSU) array studied high-energy cosmic rays with primary energies ~(1-500) PeV in the Northern hemisphere. The EAS-MSU data are being revisited following recently found indications to an excess of muonless showers, which may be interpreted as the first observation of cosmic gamma rays at ~100 PeV. In this paper, we present a complete Monte-Carlo model of the surface detector which results in a good agreement between data and simulations. The model allows us to study the performance of the detector and will be used to obtain physical results in further studies.

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arXiv2015

Regions of an excessive flux of cosmic rays according to data of the FIAN and MSU arrays

Results of a blind search for localized regions of an excessive flux of cosmic rays in the energy range from 50 TeV to 20 PeV with the data of the FIAN KLARA-Chronotron experiment, the EAS MSU array and the Prototype of the EAS-1000 array are presented. A number of regions with a significant excess of the registered flux over an expected isotropic background are found. Some of the regions are present in at least two of the data sets considered.

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arXiv2014

Estimates of the cosmic gamma-ray flux at PeV to EeV energies from the EAS-MSU experiment data

Archival EAS-MSU data are searched for anomalous muonless events which may be caused by primary gamma rays with energies between 10^15 eV and 10^18 eV. We consider a refined sample of high-quality data and confirm the previously reported detection of a non-zero gamma-ray flux at ~5x10^16 eV with a similar flux value but at somewhat lower statistical significance, corresponding to the depletion of the sample. We present upper limits on the flux below and above these energies, including the first constraints in the range (10^17-10^18) eV never studied by any other experiment.

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arXiv2013

Estimate of the fraction of primary photons in the cosmic-ray flux at energies ~10^17 eV from the EAS-MSU experiment data

We reanalyze archival EAS-MSU data in order to search for events with anomalously low content of muons with energies E_mu>10 GeV in extensive air showers with number of particles N_e>2*10^7. We confirm the first evidence for nonzero flux of primary cosmic gamma rays at energies E~10^17 eV. The estimated fraction of primary gamma rays in the flux of cosmic particles with energies E>5.4*10^16 eV is (0.43 +0.12-0.11)%, which corresponds to the intensity of (1.2 +0.4-0.3)*10^{-16} cm^{-2} s^{-1} sr^{-1}. The study of arrival directions does not favour any particular mechanism of the origin of the photon-like events.

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arXiv2012

Sources of UHECRs in view of the TUS and JEM-EUSO experiments

The origin of ultra-high-energy cosmic rays (UHECRs) is one of the most intriguing problems of modern cosmic ray physics. We briefly review the main astrophysical models of their origin and the forthcoming orbital experiments TUS and JEM-EUSO, and discuss how the new data can help one solve the long-standing puzzle.

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