REVIEW 5 cited by
Inference of the Mass Composition of Cosmic Rays with energies from $\mathbf{10^{18.5}}$ to $\mathbf{10^{20}}$ eV using the Pierre Auger Observatory and Deep Learning
Not yet reviewed by Pith; the record is open.
This paper has not been read by Pith yet. Machine review is queued; the pith claim, tier, and objections will appear here once it completes.
SPECIMEN: schema-true, not a live event
T0 review · schema-true
One-sentence machine reading of the paper's core claim.
pith:XXXXXXXX · record.json · timestamp
arxiv 2406.06315 v3 pith:FPHJMK4K submitted 2024-06-10 astro-ph.HE astro-ph.IM
show 358 more authors
abstract
We present measurements of the atmospheric depth of the shower maximum $X_\mathrm{max}$, inferred for the first time on an event-by-event level using the Surface Detector of the Pierre Auger Observatory. Using deep learning, we were able to extend measurements of the $X_\mathrm{max}$ distributions up to energies of 100 EeV ($10^{20}$ eV), not yet revealed by current measurements, providing new insights into the mass composition of cosmic rays at extreme energies. Gaining a 10-fold increase in statistics compared to the Fluorescence Detector data, we find evidence that the rate of change of the average $X_\mathrm{max}$ with the logarithm of energy features three breaks at $6.5\pm0.6~(\mathrm{stat})\pm1~(\mathrm{sys})$ EeV, $11\pm 2~(\mathrm{stat})\pm1~(\mathrm{sys})$ EeV, and $31\pm5~(\mathrm{stat})\pm3~(\mathrm{sys})$ EeV, in the vicinity to the three prominent features (ankle, instep, suppression) of the cosmic-ray flux. The energy evolution of the mean and standard deviation of the measured $X_\mathrm{max}$ distributions indicates that the mass composition becomes increasingly heavier and purer, thus being incompatible with a large fraction of light nuclei between 50 EeV and 100 EeV.
Forward citations
Cited by 5 Pith papers
Reviewed papers in the Pith corpus that reference this work. Sorted by Pith novelty score. Full citation record
-
Ultra-High-Energy Particle Production in Binary Mergers Endowed with Magnetic Fields
astro-ph.HE 2026-07 conditional novelty 5.0 of 10
Using a magnetized Kerr spacetime, the authors compute that binary merger remnants can yield proton collision energies up to 10^20 eV, proposing them as UHECR sources.
-
Scrutinizing the cosmogenic origin of the KM3-230213A event: A Multimessenger Perspective
astro-ph.HE 2025-07 conditional novelty 5.0 of 10
A multimessenger transport calculation finds that KM3-230213A is plausibly cosmogenic only if it originates from hard-spectrum protons above the ankle with source evolution close to (1+z)^3.
-
Measurement and Interpretation of UHECR Mass Composition at the Pierre Auger Observatory
astro-ph.HE 2025-07 conditional novelty 5.0 of 10
Auger Phase I data show UHECR composition is mixed and grows heavier above a few EeV, with no robust north-south FD difference.
-
Reconstructing Air-Shower Observables using a Universality-Based Model at the Pierre Auger Observatory
astro-ph.HE 2025-07 conditional novelty 4.0 of 10
A universality-based fit to surface-detector time traces can reconstruct Xmax and muon number, giving preliminary composition results for cosmic rays above 4 EeV, though the mean Xmax scale is calibrated to fluorescence data.
-
The Global Cosmic Ray Observatory -- Challenging next-generation multi-messenger astronomy with interdisciplinary research
astro-ph.HE 2025-07 unverdicted novelty 2.0 of 10
GCOS is proposed as a 60,000 km2 cosmic-ray observatory that would boost exposure tenfold and enable charged-particle astronomy, though this paper only restates the design goals.
Discussion (0). Continue with ORCID to comment.