On special features of the longitudinal development of extensive air showers and on the spectrum of cosmic rays

It is shown that, in the development of an extensive air shower (EAS) initiated by primary cosmic rays in the Earth’s atmosphere, there is a special feature that sterms from the violation of equilibrium between EAS components and whose inclusion requires revising both EAS phenomenology and the existing experimental data obtained by indirectly measuring the energy spectrum of cosmic rays by the EAS method.     

Higher-order extremely asymmetrical scattering

Extremely asymmetrical scattering (EAS) is a type of Bragg scattering in periodic gratings, that occurs when the diffracted order satisfying the Bragg condition (scattered wave) propagates parallel to the grating boundaries. Previous studies were concerned only with first-order EAS that was shown to be a highly unusual type of scattering, characterised by a strong resonant increase of the scattered wave amplitude (i.e. the amplitude of the first diffracted order). In this paper, a rigorous numerical study of higher-order EAS is presented for the case of bulk TE electromagnetic waves in planar holographic gratings of various amplitudes and widths. In particular, it is demonstrated that typical scattered wave amplitudes in higher-order EAS are significantly smaller than those in first-order EAS, and display strongly different dependencies on grating width, grating amplitude, distance from the front grating boundary, etc. Similar to first-order EAS, second-order EAS is shown to be strongly sensitive to small variations of mean structural parameters at the grating boundaries. EAS in non-sinusoidal gratings is investigated in detail with special focus on the transition between first-order EAS and second-order EAS in such gratings. Tolerance of second-order EAS to the presence of the second grating harmonic is analysed. The effect of phase of the second grating harmonic on transitional EAS is investigated. Physical explanation of the predicted effects is presented.     

Amplification and nonlinear modification of runaway breakdown

The astonishing natural phenomenon of narrow bipolar pulses (NBP) is an isolated discharges in thunderstorms at tropopause heights (10–20 km) that generates enormously powerful radio emission but lasts only a few microseconds. The theory of this phenomenon based on runaway breakdown is elaborated. At such high heights extensive atmospheric shower (EAS) become well developed only if the energetic cosmic ray particle momentum is directed close to the horizon. For these conditions the runaway breakdown–extensive atmospheric shower (RB–EAS) discharge amplified strongly what lead to the effective diminishing of thundercloud electric field and results in nonlinear saturation of the discharge current. A reasonable agreement of the theory with NBP observations is demonstrated.     

EAS Phenomenology and Cosmic Ray Spectrum Ground Based Measurements

Primary cosmic ray energy spectrum around and above 1 PeV is of great interest due to its non-power-law behavior (“knee”) in PeV region found many years ago using the indirect EAS (Extensive Air Shower) method. The method is based on secondary particles measuring on Earth’s surface under a thick atmosphere. Traditionally, people use detectors sensitive to ionization produced mostly by secondary electromagnetic component and therefore any found changes in EAS size spectrum correspond to secondary components, which have to be recalculated to primary spectrum. Recently some new “knees” were claimed by high altitude experiments: at ∼45 TeV for all-particle spectrum (HAWC), for primary protons and helium: at ∼400 TeV (Tibet ASγ) and at ∼700 TeV (ARGO-YBJ) thus widening the “knee” region from ∼0.045 to 5 PeV. The natural explanation of such a strange spectrum behavior in a wide energy range could be found in the EAS phenomenological approach to the knee problem.

     

Neutron multiplicity: Local hadronic showers and extensive air showers

A detailed analysis of events with neutron multiplicity M = 3−30 on neutron monitors (NMs) in Barentsburg (Spitsbergen), Baksan (North Caucasus), and Apatity (Murmansk region) is performed on the data obtained using a unique new data collection system. It is now possible for the first time to register local showers in cosmic rays on NMs and to investigate their structure with a high precision. Multiplicity on NMs is simulated using the GEANT4 Monte Carlo toolkit. Local hadronic cascades in the atmosphere with transverse sizes of 1 to 6 m were observed for the first time using the NM data. NM multiplicity generated by EAS hadronic cascades is studied on the data set on coupling NMs with the CARPET EAS facility.     

Frequency response of second-order extremely asymmetrical scattering in wide uniform holographic gratings

Second-order extremely asymmetrical scattering (EAS) and grazing-angle scattering (GAS) are types of Bragg scattering in slanted wide periodic gratings. They occur when the second diffracted order satisfies the Bragg condition and has a wavevector parallel (for EAS) and almost parallel (for GAS) to the grating boundaries. In this paper, for the first time, a rigorous numerical study of the frequency responses of second-order EAS and GAS is presented for bulk TE electromagnetic waves in planar holographic gratings. A highly unusual pattern of strong optical resonances in the side-lobe structure of these frequency responses is predicted. A relationship between these resonances and the previously predicted GAS resonances (at zero detunings of the Bragg condition) is established and analysed. A special new type of eigenmodes in slanted wide periodic gratings with strong frequency detunings are predicted in the case of second-order EAS and GAS. The eigenmodes are shown to be guided by the grating alone without any conventional guiding effect in the structure. The typical field structure in such eigenmodes is investigated and discussed. PACS 42.25Fx; 42.79Dj; 42.40Eq     

KLYPVE/TUS space experiments for study of ultrahigh-energy cosmic rays

The KLYPVE space experiment has been proposed to study the energy spectrum, composition, and arrival direction of ultrahigh-energy cosmic rays (UHECR) by detecting from satellites the atmosphere fluorescence and scattered Cherenkov light produced by EAS, initiated by UHECR particles. The TUS setup is a prototype KLYPVE instrument. The aim of the TUS experiment is to detect dozens of UHECR events in the energy region of the GZK cutoff, to measure the light background, to test the atmosphere control methods, and to study stability of the optical materials, PMTs, and other instrumental parts in space environment.     

Underground hadronic calorimeter for EAS studies

An innovative method for studying the properties of extensive air showers (EASes) that is based on the detection of thermal neutrons generated by high energy hadrons under a soil absorber of 500 g cm⁻² is proposed and tested. It is shown that underground hadronic calorimeter can be performed with special scintillation detectors developed by the authors. The method could be quite useful in gamma shower selection and investigations of EAS properties, primary cosmic ray mass composition, EAS core location, and so on.     

Cosmic rays of energies in the range 103–105 TeV and higher

Over a period of more than 30 years, the knee in the spectrum of extensive air showers (EAS) generated by cosmic radiation has been explained in two ways: as a consequence of a cusp in the energy spectrum of primary cosmic rays or as a consequence of a change undergone by the process of multiparticle hadron production in the interactions of primary protons with nuclei of air atoms. Investigations at the Tien Shan EAS array confirm a change in the properties of showers generated by protons near the upper boundary of the atmosphere and evince the invariability of the energy spectrum of protons in the energy range 10³–10⁵ TeV.     

Comparing the effects of reverberation and of noise on speech recognition in simulated electric-acoustic listening

Cochlear implant users report difficulty understanding speech in both noisy and reverberant environments. Electric-acoustic stimulation (EAS) is known to improve speech intelligibility in noise. However, little is known about the potential benefits of EAS in reverberation, or about how such benefits relate to those observed in noise. The present study used EAS simulations to examine these questions. Sentences were convolved with impulse responses from a model of a room whose estimated reverberation times were varied from 0 to 1 sec. These reverberated stimuli were then vocoded to simulate electric stimulation, or presented as a combination of vocoder plus low-pass filtered speech to simulate EAS. Monaural sentence recognition scores were measured in two conditions: reverberated speech and speech in a reverberated noise. The long-term spectrum and amplitude modulations of the noise were equated to the reverberant energy, allowing a comparison of the effects of the interferer (speech vs noise). Results indicate that, at least in simulation, (1) EAS provides significant benefit in reverberation; (2) the benefits of EAS in reverberation may be underestimated by those in a comparable noise; and (3) the EAS benefit in reverberation likely arises from partially preserved cues in this background accessible via the low-frequency acoustic component.     

Study of the temporal structure of the EAS neutron component

Experimental data on detecting the thermal neutrons that accompany extensive air showers (EAS) over a long period of time (May 2009–April 2010) are presented. The data were obtained by means of prototype for an innovative new array (PRISMA) for EAS study. The workability of this array and its ability to yield completely new information on the hadron and electron components of EAS was checked experimentally over long period of time (in the minimal version of the prototype).     

Neutrons in extensive air showers

The main properties of the so-called neutron bursts produced by the passage of extensive air showers (EASs) through a detector array and the properties of these EASs are considered using the experiments that are being or have been carried out previously with the Carpet-2 array at Baksan Neutrino Observatory of the Institute for Nuclear Research, Russian Academy of Sciences, and at Cosmic-Ray Station of UNAM in Mexico as examples. We show that no exotic processes are required to explain the nature of neutron bursts. Based on a working prototype of the previously proposed MULTICOM array, we also show that this phenomenon can be successfully used in studying the EAS hadronic component and that adding special thermal neutron detectors can improve significantly the capabilities of the array for EAS study.     

Mass composition of 1017- to 1018-eV primary cosmic rays according to data on the lateral distribution of radio emission from extensive air showers

Experimental data obtained for the lateral distribution of radio emission from extensive air showers (EAS) at the array of Moscow State University (30?C34 MHz) and the LOPES array (40?C80 MHz) were comparedwith the results of calculations performed within amicroscopic approach based on aMonte Carlo simulation of EAS (CORSIKA code). The same experimental data were used to reconstruct the distribution of the depth of the EAS maximum at cosmic-ray energies in the range of 1017?C1018 eV. The energy dependence of the depth of the EAS maximum was constructed for the case of data from the LOPES array, and the mass composition of cosmic rays was estimated for this case. From the resulting dependences, it follows that the mass composition shows a trend toward becoming lighter in the energy range being considered     

Nuclear-Physics Model of the Knee in the EAS Spectrum

Spectra of the most energetic hadrons in cores of extensive air showers (EAS) were obtained for the first time in the HADRON hybrid experiment in Tien Shan mountains. The spectra in question exhibit a scaling violation, which requires invoking nontrivial effects in order to explain this circumstance. In the present article, unusual data on pp-interaction cross sections from recent experiments at the Large Hadron Collider are analyzed with this aim in view. A comparison with data at lower energies shows that the elastic cross section for pp interaction grows faster than the respective inelastic cross section. It would be natural to expect that a similar or a stronger effect is present in nucleus–nucleus interactions in cosmic rays. A possible change in the properties of nuclear cascades in the Earth’s atmosphere provides the possibility of discussing a new interpretation of the knee in the EAS spectrum and some exotic phenomena observed in cosmic-ray experiments. This interpretation is proposed for the first time. Particular attention is given to unique data from the HADRON hybrid experiment.     

A simulation study of harmonics regeneration in noise reduction for electric and acoustic stimulation

Recent research results show that combined electric and acoustic stimulation (EAS) significantly improves speech recognition in noise, and it is generally established that access to the improved F0 representation of target speech, along with the glimpse cues, provide the EAS benefits. Under noisy listening conditions, noise signals degrade these important cues by introducing undesired temporal-frequency components and corrupting harmonics structure. In this study, the potential of combining noise reduction and harmonics regeneration techniques was investigated to further improve speech intelligibility in noise by providing improved beneficial cues for EAS. Three hypotheses were tested: (1) noise reduction methods can improve speech intelligibility in noise for EAS; (2) harmonics regeneration after noise reduction can further improve speech intelligibility in noise for EAS; and (3) harmonics sideband constraints in frequency domain (or equivalently, amplitude modulation in temporal domain), even deterministic ones, can provide additional benefits. Test results demonstrate that combining noise reduction and harmonics regeneration can significantly improve speech recognition in noise for EAS, and it is also beneficial to preserve the harmonics sidebands under adverse listening conditions. This finding warrants further work into the development of algorithms that regenerate harmonics and the related sidebands for EAS processing under noisy conditions.     

A novel type of EAS recording array: First results

The prototype of a novel type EAS (extensive air shower) recording and investigation array (the PRISMA project) is created on the basis of the NEVOD experimental complex through cooperation between Institute for Nuclear Research, Russian Academy of Sciences, and the National Research Nuclear University MEPhI. The prototype (ProtoPRISMA) consists of thirty-two en-detectors sensitive to EAS electromagnetic (e) and hadronic (via the registration of thermal neutrons) (n) components. The array is designed to develop and to test a new method of EAS investigation using neutron and electromagnetic components and to obtain preliminary data on the spectrum and composition of cosmic rays.     

On the possibility of investigation of the mass composition and energy spectra of primary cosmic ray (PCR) in the energy range from 1015 to 1017 eV using EAS data

Summary A method allowing one to determine the mass composition of primary cosmic radiation by means of simultaneous analysis of model and experimental data is presented in this paper. The most important part of this work is the quantitative comparison of multivariate distributions and the use of methods of nonparametric statistics for probability density estimation in a multivariate space of features. To check the method offered, events withE ₀>500TeV were generated by the Monte Carlo method. The showers generated were preliminarily processed by algorithms used in experimental data handling. The apparatus-induced distortions of the measured EAS characteristics have been taken into account. The method allows one to select an experimental event initiated by primary protons and iron nuclei with an efficiency of (70÷80)%. Also a new multivariate method of incident particle energy estimation based on the nonparametric regression is described. The method proposed, together with the above-mentioned multivariate EAS classification, allows one to determine the energy spectrum of incident protons and nuclei. Detection and investigation of the products of interaction of these particles with the atmosphere will allow us to study proton-nuclei and nuclei-nuclei interactions at energies from 10¹⁵ to 10¹⁷ eV.     

How does the EAS look like in thermal neutrons?

The first experimental data on detection of thermal neutrons accompanying extensive air showers (EASs) which were obtained at two prototypes of the future novel PRISMA EAS array are reported. The operation of this array (even in the minimum prototype version) and its ability to yield completely new information on the hadron and electron components of the EAS were experimentally checked.     

Characteristics of DC discharge in a wire-cylinder configuration at high ambient temperatures

In the present work, the characteristics of direct-current (DC) discharge in a wire-cylinder configuration at an ambient temperature range of 350–850 °C were studied by analyzing photographs of the discharging process and the corresponding V–I characteristics, with the aim of facilitating the application of plasma technology in the fields of energy and the environment. The influences of the ambient temperature, the inter-electrode gap, the gas medium and the cathode material on the DC discharge were investigated. The corona-onset threshold voltage (COTV) and the spark-breakdown threshold voltage (SBTV) decrease as the ambient temperature increases, and the SBTV decreases more rapidly. Increasing the inter-electrode gap enlarges the difference between the SBTV and the COTV. After spark breakdown, in an air atmosphere, glow discharge is more likely to take place under conditions of high ambient temperatures or small inter-electrode gaps. The values of the SBTV in different atmospheres have the following relation: air ≈ O₂ > CO₂. At an ambient temperature range of 350–850 °C and in an atmosphere of N₂, glow discharge and arc discharge occur successively as the output voltage of the power supply is increased, while in an atmosphere of O₂ and CO₂, only corona and arc discharge are successively observed. In an air atmosphere, when the inter-electrode gap is 29 mm, corona, glow and arc discharge occur successively with increasing output voltage when the ambient temperature is 850 °C, while only corona and arc discharge appear when the temperature is 350–750 °C. When the inter-electrode gap is 5 mm in an air atmosphere, corona, glow and arc discharge occur successively in an ambient temperature range of 350–850 °C. The cathode material has a minor influence on the COTV and a more significant influence on the SBTV. In a device using a cathode with a low work function, the SBTV is low, and the power to maintain arc discharge is small.     

Elastic AlignedSENSE for Dynamic MR Reconstruction: A Proof of Concept in Cardiac Cine

Numerous methods in the extensive literature on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) reconstruction exploit temporal redundancy to accelerate cardiac cine. Some of them include motion compensation, which involves high computational costs and long runtimes. In this work, we proposed a method—elastic alignedSENSE (EAS)—for the direct reconstruction of a motion-free image plus a set of nonrigid deformations to reconstruct a 2D cardiac sequence. The feasibility of the proposed approach was tested in 2D Cartesian and golden radial multi-coil breath-hold cardiac cine acquisitions. The proposed approach was compared against parallel imaging compressed sense (sPICS) and group-wise motion corrected compressed sense (GWCS) reconstructions. EAS provides better results on objective measures with considerable less runtime when an acceleration factor is higher than 10×. Subjective assessment of an expert, however, invited proposing the combination of EAS and GWCS as a preferable alternative to GWCS or EAS in isolation.