arXiv subjects

Tim Huege

Publications and source records attributed to Tim Huege.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources

arXiv2021

Interferometric imaging of Intensely Radiating Negative Leaders

The common phenomenon of lightning still harbors many secrets and only recently a new propagation mode was observed for negative leaders. While propagating in this `Intensely Radiating Negative Leader' (IRNL) mode a negative leader emits 100 times more very-high frequency (VHF) and broadband radiation than a more normal negative leader. We have reported that this mode occurs soon after initiation of all lightning flashes we have mapped as well as sometimes long thereafter. Because of the profuse emission of VHF the leader structure is very difficult to image. In this work we report on measurements made with the LOFAR radio telescope, an instrument primarily built for radio-astronomy observations. For this reason, as part of the present work, we have refined our time resolved interferometric 3-Dimensional (TRI-D) imaging to take into account the antenna function. The images from the TRI-D imager show that during an IRNL there is an ionization front with a diameter in excess of 500~m where strong corona bursts occur. This is very different from what is seen for a normal negative leader where the corona bursts happen at the tip, an area of typically 10~m in diameter. The observed massive ionization wave supports the idea that this mode is indicative of a dense charge pocket.

physics.ao-ph↗

arXiv2021

Time resolved 3Dinterferometric imaging of a section of a negative leader with LOFAR

We have developed a three dimensional (3D) interferometric beamforming technique for imaging lightning flashes using Very-High Frequency (VHF) radio data recorded from several hundreds antennas with baselines up to 100~km as offered by the Low Frequency Array (LOFAR). The long baselines allow us to distinguish fine structures on the scale of meters while the large number of antennas allow us to observe processes that radiate at the same intensity as the background when using a time resolution that is close to the impulse-response time of the system, 100~ns. The new beamforming imaging technique is complementary to our existing impulsive imaging technique. We apply this new tool to the imaging of a four stepped negative leaders in two flashes. For one flash, we observe the dynamics of coronal flashes that are emitted in the stepping process. Additionally, we show that the intensity emitted in VHF during the stepping process follows a power-law over 4 orders of magnitude in intensity for four leaders in two different lightning storms.

physics.ao-ph↗

arXiv2021

Expected performance of air-shower measurements with the radio-interferometric technique

Interferometric measurements with arrays of radio antennas are a powerful and widely used technique in astronomy. Recently, this technique has been revisited for the reconstruction of extensive air showers [1]. This radio-interferometric technique exploits the coherence in the radio emission emitted by billions of secondary shower particles to reconstruct the shower parameters, in particular the shower axis and depth of the shower maximum $X_\mathrm{max}$. The accuracy previously demonstrated on simulations with an idealized detector is very promising. In this article we evaluate the potential of interferometric $X_\mathrm{max}$ measurements using (simulated) inclined air showers with sparse antenna arrays under realistic conditions. To determine prerequisites for the application of the radio-interferometric technique with various antenna arrays, the influence of inaccuracies in the time synchronisation between antennas and its inter-dependency with the antenna density is investigated in detail. We find a strong correlation between the antenna multiplicity (per event) and the maximum acceptable time jitter, i.e., inaccuracy in the time synchronisation. For data recorded with a time synchronisation accurate to within 1 ns in the commonly used frequency band of 30 to 80 MHz, an antenna multiplicity of $> 50$ is needed to achieve an $X_\mathrm{max}$ resolution of $σ_{X_\mathrm{max}} \lesssim 20$ g cm$^{-2}$. For data recorded with 2 ns accuracy, already $\gtrsim 200$ antennas are needed to achieve this $X_\mathrm{max}$ resolution. Furthermore, we find no advantage reconstructing $X_\mathrm{max}$ from data simulated at higher observation frequencies, i.e., up to several hundred MHz. Finally, we provide a generalisation of our results from very inclined air showers to vertical geometries.

astro-ph.IM↗

arXiv2021

Reconstruction of radio signals from air-showers with autoencoder

The Tunka Radio Extension (Tunka-Rex) is a digital antenna array (63 antennas distributed over 1km^2) co-located with the TAIGA observatory in Eastern Siberia. Tunka-Rex measures radio emission of air-showers induced by ultra-high energy cosmic rays in the frequency band of 30-80 MHz. Air-shower signal is a short (tens of nanoseconds) broadband pulse. Using time positions and amplitudes of these pulses, we reconstruct parameters of air showers and primary cosmic rays. The amplitudes of low-energy event (E<10^17 eV) cannot be used for successful reconstruction due to the domination of background. To lower the energy threshold of the detection and increase the efficiency, we use autoencoder neural network which removes noise from the measured data. This work describes our approach to denoising raw data and further reconstruction of air-shower parameters. We also present results of the low-energy events reconstruction with autoencoder.

astro-ph.IM↗

arXiv2020

Refractive displacement of the radio-emission footprint of inclined air showers simulated with CoREAS

The footprint of radio emission from extensive air showers is known to exhibit asymmetries due to the superposition of geomagnetic and charge-excess radiation. For inclined air showers a geometric early-late effect disturbs the signal distribution further. Correcting CoREAS simulations for these asymmetries reveals an additional disturbance in the signal distribution of highly inclined showers in atmospheres with a realistic refractive index profile. This additional apparent asymmetry in fact arises from a systematic displacement of the radio-emission footprint with respect to the Monte-Carlo shower impact point on the ground. We find a displacement of $\sim 1500\,\text{m}$ in the ground plane for showers with a zenith angle of $85^\circ$, illustrating that the effect is relevant in practical applications. A model describing this displacement by refraction in the atmosphere based on Snell's law yields good agreement with our observations from CoREAS simulations. We thus conclude that the displacement is caused by refraction in the atmosphere.

astro-ph.IM↗

arXiv2019

Symmetrizing the signal distribution of radio emission from inclined air showers

Radio detection of inclined air showers currently receives special attention. It can be performed with very sparse antenna arrays and yields a pure measurement of the electromagnetic air-shower component, thus delivering information that is highly complementary to the measurement of the muonic component using particle detectors. However, radio-based reconstruction of inclined air showers is challenging in light of asymmetries induced in the radio-signal distribution by early-late effects as well as the superposition of geomagnetic and charge-excess radiation. We present a model for the signal distribution of radio emission from inclined air showers which allows explicit compensation of these asymmetries. In a first step, geometrical early-late asymmetries are removed. Secondly, a universal parameterization of the charge-excess fraction as a function of the air-shower geometry, the atmospheric density profile and the lateral distance from the shower axis is used to compensate for the charge-excess contribution to the signal. The resulting signal distribution of the pure geomagnetic emission is then fit with a rotationally symmetric lateral distribution function, the area integration of which yields the radiation energy as an estimator for the cosmic-ray energy. We present the details and performance of our model, which lays the foundation for robust and precise reconstruction of inclined air showers from radio measurements.

astro-ph.IM↗

arXiv2019

Universality and template synthesis of cosmic ray air shower radio emission

Accurate prediction of the radio emission from cosmic ray air showers relies on computationally demanding Monte Carlo simulations such as CoREAS. We aim to expedite this process via a semi-analytical synthesis model while maintaining high accuracy by using simulated radio pulses as templates. We present our key concept for template processing focusing on the development of the particle cascade and its empirical effect on the locally produced radio signal. In this context the universality of the radio emission from small sections of an air shower also becomes important where most previous studies focus on integral quantities observable at far distances.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2019

A Surface Radio Array for the Enhancement of IceTop and its Science Prospects

Radio detection of air showers in the current era has progressed immensely to effectively extract the properties of these air showers. Primary cosmic rays with energies of hundreds of PeV have been successfully measured with the method of radio detection. There are also attempts to observe high-energy neutrinos with this technique. Current radio experiments measuring cosmic-ray air showers mostly operate in the frequency range of 30-80 MHz. An optimization of the frequency band of operation can be done for maximizing the signal-to-noise ratio that can be achieved by an array of radio antennas at the South Pole, operated along with IceTop. Such an array can improve the reconstruction of air showers performed with IceTop. The prospect of using such an optimized radio array for measuring gamma rays of PeV energies from the Galactic Center is discussed.

astro-ph.IM↗

arXiv2019

Reconstruction of air-shower measurements with AERA in the presence of pulsed radio-frequency interference

The Auger Engineering Radio Array (AERA) is situated in the Argentinian Pampa Amarilla, a location far away from large human settlements. Nevertheless, a strong background of pulsed radio-frequency interference (RFI) exists on site, which not only makes radio self-triggering challenging but also poses a problem for an efficient and pure reconstruction of air-shower measurements. We present how our standard event reconstruction exploits several strategies to identify and suppress pulsed noise, and quantify the efficiency and purity of our algorithms. These strategies can be employed by any experiment taking radio data in the presence of pulsed RFI.

astro-ph.IM↗

arXiv2019

Radio detection of cosmic rays with the Auger Engineering Radio Array

The Auger Engineering Radio Array (AERA) complements the Pierre Auger Observatory with 150 radio-antenna stations measuring in the frequency range from 30 to 80 MHz. With an instrumented area of 17 km$^2$, the array constitutes the largest cosmic-ray radio detector built to date, allowing us to do multi-hybrid measurements of cosmic rays in the energy range of 10$^{17}$ eV up to several 10$^{18}$ eV. We give an overview of AERA results and discuss the significance of radio detection for the validation of the energy scale of cosmic-ray detectors as well as for mass-composition measurements.

astro-ph.IM↗

arXiv2018

Towards a Next Generation of CORSIKA: A Framework for the Simulation of Particle Cascades in Astroparticle Physics

A large scientific community depends on the precise modelling of complex processes in particle cascades in various types of matter. These models are used most prevalently in cosmic-ray physics, astrophysical-neutrino physics, and gamma-ray astronomy. In this white paper, we summarize the necessary steps to ensure the evolution and future availability of optimal simulation tools. The purpose of this document is not to act as a strict blueprint for next-generation software, but to provide guidance for the vital aspects of its design. The topics considered here are driven by physics and scientific applications. Furthermore, the main consequences of implementation decisions on performance are outlined. We highlight the computational performance as an important aspect guiding the design since future scientific applications will heavily depend on an efficient use of computational resources.

astro-ph.IM↗

arXiv2018

A Rotationally Symmetric Lateral Distribution Function for Radio Emission from Inclined Air Showers

Radio detection of inclined air showers is currently receiving great attention. To exploit the potential, a suitable event reconstruction needs to be developed. The first step in this direction is the development of a model for the lateral distribution of the radio signals, which in the case of inclined air showers exhibits asymmetries due to "early-late" effects in addition to the usual asymmetries from the superposition of charge-excess and geomagnetic emission. We present a model which corrects for all asymmetries and successfully describes the lateral distribution of the energy fluence with a rotationally symmetric function. This gives access to the radiation energy as a measure of the energy of the cosmic-ray primary, and is also sensitive to the depth of the shower maximum.

astro-ph.IM↗

arXiv2018

Determination of the absolute energy scale of extensive air showers via radio emission: systematic uncertainty of underlying first-principle calculations

Recently, the energy determination of extensive air showers using radio emission has been shown to be both precise and accurate. In particular, radio detection offers the opportunity for an independent measurement of the absolute energy scale of cosmic rays, since the radiation energy (the energy radiated in the form of radio signals) can be predicted using first-principle calculations involving no free parameters, and the measurement of radio waves is not subject to any significant absorption or scattering in the atmosphere. To quantify the uncertainty associated with such an approach, we collate the various contributions to the uncertainty, and we verify the consistency of radiation-energy calculations from microscopic simulation codes by comparing Monte Carlo simulations made with the two codes CoREAS and ZHAireS. We compare a large set of simulations with different primary energies and shower directions and observe differences in the radiation energy prediction for the 30 - 80 MHz band of 5.2 %. This corresponds to an uncertainty of 2.6 % for the determination of the absolute cosmic-ray energy scale. Our result has general validity and can be built upon directly by experimental efforts for the calibration of the cosmic-ray energy scale on the basis of radio emission measurements.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2017

Modelling uncertainty of the radiation energy emitted by extensive air showers

Recently, the energy determination of extensive air showers using radio emission has been shown to be both precise and accurate. In particular, radio detection offers the opportunity for an independent measurement of the absolute energy of cosmic rays, since the radiation energy (the energy radiated in the form of radio signals) can be predicted using first-principle calculations involving no free parameters, and the measurement of radio waves is not subject to any significant absorption or scattering in the atmosphere. Here, we verify the implementation of radiation-energy calculations from microscopic simulation codes by comparing Monte Carlo simulations made with the two codes CoREAS and ZHAireS. To isolate potential differences in the radio-emission calculation from differences in the air-shower simulation, the simulations are performed with equivalent settings, especially the same model for the hadronic interactions and the description of the atmosphere. Comparing a large set of simulations with different primary energies and shower directions we observe differences amounting to a total of only 3.3 %. This corresponds to an uncertainty of only 1.6 % in the determination of the absolute energy scale and thus opens the potential of using the radiation energy as an accurate calibration method for cosmic ray experiments.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2017

Towards a fast and precise forward model for air shower radio simulation

The radio detection method for cosmic rays relies on coherent emission from electrons and positrons which is beamed in a narrow cone along the shower axis. Currently the only mod- els to reproduce this emission with sufficient accuracy are Monte Carlo based simulations of the particle and radio emission physics, which require large investments of computation time. The work presented here focuses on condensing the simulation results into a semi-analytical model. This relies on building a framework based on theoretical predictions of radio emission, but instead of calculating the radio signal directly these models are used to map template simu- lations to the specifications of a given radio event. Our current approach slices the radio signal based on atmospheric depth of origin and weights these slices based on a shower parameter such as electron number or an effective dipole moment. One significant gain over the existing Monte Carlo codes lies in the fact this makes the depth of the shower maximum a direct input to the simulation where currently one has to pre-select showers based on their random number seed. Such a model has great potential for heavily simulation-based analysis methods, for example the LOFAR air shower reconstruction. These techniques are severely limited by the available computation time but have the lowest errors in real measurement applications.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2017

Overview of lunar detection of ultra-high energy particles and new plans for the SKA

The lunar technique is a method for maximising the collection area for ultra-high-energy (UHE) cosmic ray and neutrino searches. The method uses either ground-based radio telescopes or lunar orbiters to search for Askaryan emission from particles cascading near the lunar surface. While experiments using the technique have made important advances in the detection of nanosecond-scale pulses, only at the very highest energies has the lunar technique achieved competitive limits. This is expected to change with the advent of the Square Kilometre Array (SKA), the low-frequency component of which (SKA-low) is predicted to be able to detect an unprecedented number of UHE cosmic rays. In this contribution, the status of lunar particle detection is reviewed, with particular attention paid to outstanding theoretical questions, and the technical challenges of using a giant radio array to search for nanosecond pulses. The activities of SKA's High Energy Cosmic Particles Focus Group are described, as is a roadmap by which this group plans to incorporate this detection mode into SKA-low observations. Estimates for the sensitivity of SKA-low phases 1 and 2 to UHE particles are given, along with the achievable science goals with each stage. Prospects for near-future observations with other instruments are also described.

astro-ph.IM↗

arXiv2017

Radio Detection of Cosmic Rays -- Achievements and Future Potential

When modern efforts for radio detection of cosmic rays started about a decade ago, hopes were high but the true potential was unknown. Since then, we have achieved a detailed understanding of the radio emission physics and have consequently succeeded in developing sophisticated detection schemes and analysis approaches. In particular, we have demonstrated that the important air-shower parameters arrival direction, particle energy and depth of shower maximum can be reconstructed reliably from radio measurements, with a precision that is comparable with that of other detection techniques. At the same time, limitations inherent to the radio-emission mechanisms have become apparent. In this article, I shortly review the capabilities of radio detection in the very high-frequency band, and discuss the potential for future application in existing and new experiments for cosmic-ray detection.

astro-ph.IM↗

arXiv2017

Ultimate precision in cosmic-ray radio detection --- the SKA

As of 2023, the low-frequency part of the Square Kilometre Array will go online in Australia. It will constitute the largest and most powerful low-frequency radio-astronomical observatory to date, and will facilitate a rich science programme in astronomy and astrophysics. With modest engineering changes, it will also be able to measure cosmic rays via the radio emission from extensive air showers. The extreme antenna density and the homogeneous coverage provided by more than 60,000 antennas within an area of one km$^2$ will push radio detection of cosmic rays in the energy range around 10$^{17}$ eV to ultimate precision, with superior capabilities in the reconstruction of arrival direction, energy, and an expected depth-of-shower-maximum resolution of 6~g/cm${^2}$.

astro-ph.IM↗