Cosmic Ray Signatures in Askaryan Radio Array: Insights from a Double-Pulse Event
ORAL
Abstract
Cosmic rays (CRs) serve as both a significant background and a valuable natural calibration source for radio-based neutrino detectors. The Askaryan Radio Array (ARA) is one such detector, designed primarily to detect ultra-high energy neutrinos via Askaryan emission in Antarctic ice. In addition to neutrino detection, ARA is capable of detecting radio signals generated by CR-induced air showers. The array consists of five stations, including a phased array, with each station containing 16 radio antennas deployed to depths up to 200 meters in ice.
ARA Station-2(A2) recorded a double-pulse event that was later identified in a neutrino search analysis. The two temporally separated pulses in the event waveforms are hypothesized to originate from geomagnetic and Askaryan emissions generated by a downward-going CR-induced air shower.
In this study, I will present a simulation-based analysis of the event, quantifying the polarization characteristics, arrival directions, and time delays between the two pulses. I will also evaluate the systematic uncertainties associated with these measurements.
ARA Station-2(A2) recorded a double-pulse event that was later identified in a neutrino search analysis. The two temporally separated pulses in the event waveforms are hypothesized to originate from geomagnetic and Askaryan emissions generated by a downward-going CR-induced air shower.
In this study, I will present a simulation-based analysis of the event, quantifying the polarization characteristics, arrival directions, and time delays between the two pulses. I will also evaluate the systematic uncertainties associated with these measurements.
*The ARA Collaboration is grateful to support from the National Science Foundation through Award 2013134.
–
Publication: S.Ali and D.Z.~Bessn for the ARA Collaboration},
Study of an Isolated Double-pulse Cosmic Ray Candidate Recorded with the Askaryan Radio Array, arXiv:2509.14407 (2025).
\url{https://doi.org/10.48550/arXiv.2509.14407}.
Presenters
-
Shoukat Ali
- University of Kansas