Horizon-T experiment and detection of Extensive air showers with unusual structure

Abstract

Horizon-T is an innovative detector system constructed to study temporary structure of Extensive Air Showers (EAS) in the energy range above ~1016 eV coming from a wide range of zenith angles (up to 80°). The system, located at Tien Shan high-altitude Science Station at approximately 3340 meters above the sea level, consists of eight charged particle detection points separated by the distance up to one kilometer. The time resolution of charged particles passage of the detector system is a few ns. This level of resolution allows conducting research of atmospheric development of individual EAS. The total of ~8500 Extensive Air Showers (EAS) with the energy above 1016 eV has been detected during the ~4000 hours of Horizon-T detectors system operations since October 24, 2016 to April 21, 2017. A notable number of events has a spatial and temporary structure that showed the pulses with several maxima (modals or modes) from several detection points of the Horizon-T at the same time as described further in this work. These modes are separated in time from each other starting from tens to thousands of ns. Some are further classified as unusual event with common structure.

Cosmic-Ray Extremely Distributed Observatory

“…As the EAS disk passes the detection level, the detectors can measure not only the integral number of detected particles but their distribution over time as well, getting an effective width of the disk [161]. This technique was first developed and used at the Horizon-T [162] experiment that holds close ties with the CREDO collaboration. This approach uses the width of the EAS disk as measured by different detectors during the event.…”

Multi-Modal Clustering Events Observed by Horizon-10T and Axion Quark Nuggets

“…In this work we discuss two naively unrelated stories. The first one deals with the recent puzzling observations [1][2][3][4][5] by the Horizon-10T (H10T) collaboration of the Multi-Modal Events (MME).…”

“…In what follows we overview the observation [1][2][3][4][5] by emphasizing the puzzling nature of these events if interpreted as conventional EAS events. At the same time the same observations can be explained in very natural way if interpreted in terms of the AQN annihilation events as we shall argue in this work.…”

“…Our presentation is organized as follows. In next Section 2 we explain why the observation [1][2][3][4][5] listed as 1-4 puzzles are very mysterious events if interpreted as conventional EAS events. In Section 3 we give a brief overview of the AQN framework with emphasize on the key elements relevant for the present studies.…”

Cosmic Ray Extremely Distributed Observatory

“…As the EAS disk passes the detection level, the detectors can measure not only the integral number of detected particles but their distribution over time as well, getting an effective width of the disk [164]. This technique was first developed and used at the Horizon-T [165] experiment that holds close ties with the CREDO collaboration. This approach uses the width of the EAS disk as measured by different detectors during the event.…”