# First ground based measurement of atmospheric Cherenkov light from cosmic rays

6 APC - AHE - APC - Astrophysique des Hautes Energies
APC (UMR_7164) - AstroParticule et Cosmologie, Dipartimento di Astronomia, Universita degli Studi di Bologna
Abstract : A recently proposed novel technique for the detection of cosmic rays with arrays of Imaging Atmospheric Cherenkov Telescopes is applied to data from the High Energy Stereoscopic System (H.E.S.S.). The method relies on the ground based detection of Cherenkov light emitted from the primary particle prior to its first interaction in the atmosphere. The charge of the primary particle (Z) can be estimated from the intensity of this light, since it is proportional to Z$^2$. Using H.E.S.S. data, an energy spectrum for cosmic-ray iron nuclei in the energy range 13--200 TeV is derived. The reconstructed spectrum is consistent with previous direct measurements and is one of the most precise so far in this energy range.
Document type :
Journal articles
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http://hal.in2p3.fr/in2p3-00134805
Contributor : Claudine Bombar <>
Submitted on : Monday, March 5, 2007 - 3:24:44 PM
Last modification on : Saturday, September 19, 2020 - 4:52:39 AM

### Citation

F. Aharonian, A.G. Akhperjanian, A.R. Bazer-Bachi, M. Beilicke, W. Benbow, et al.. First ground based measurement of atmospheric Cherenkov light from cosmic rays. Physical Review D, American Physical Society, 2007, 75, pp.042004. ⟨10.1103/PhysRevD.75.042004⟩. ⟨in2p3-00134805⟩

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