Analysis of Lateral Distribution of Atmospheric Cherenkov Light at High Mountain Altitude Towards Event Reconstruction

Abstract

Air shower simulations with CORSIKA6.990 code using FLUKA 2011 and QGSJET II hadron generators are performed. The simulations are carried out at high mountain observation level, namely, Chacaltaya cosmic ray station. The lateral distribution of atmospheric Cherenkov light produced by various primary particles, namely, proton, helium, oxygen, and iron nuclei, is obtained over wide energy range, between 1011 eV and 1017 eV. The lateral distribution is obtained, integrating over time and angle Cherenkov photons till 800 m from the shower axis. The shapes of the obtained distributions are compared and parameterized. Three different approximations of lateral distribution of Cherenkov light are compared. On the basis of inverse problem solution an event analysis, towards mass composition and energy reconstruction of the primary particle, is carried out. The applications and scientific potential for HECRE experiment proposal are discussed.