An analysis of muon and hadron rates observed in the central detector of the KASCADE experiment has been carried out. The data are compared to CORSIKA simulations employing the high-energy hadronic interaction models QGSJET, DPMJET, HDPM, SIBYLL, and VENUS. In addition, first results with the new hadronic interaction model neXus 2 are discussed. Differences of the model predictions, both among ...

The experiment KASCADE observes simultaneously the electron-photon, muon, and hadron components of high-energy extensive air showers (EAS). The analysis of EAS observables for an estimate of energy and mass of the primary particle invokes extensive Monte Carlo simulations of the EAS development for preparing reference patterns. The present studies utilize the air shower simulation code CORSIKA ...

The fluorescence detector (FD) of the Pierre Auger Observatory is currently operating 18 fluorescence telescopes of the 24 that will be employed in the completed detector. These telescopes, grouped in 4 eyes each consisting of 6 telescopes, measure the longitudinal profile of cosmic ray showers with a 14% duty cycle. The reconstruction capability and triggering efficiency have been studied usin...

The longitudinal profile of the most energetic cosmic-ray air shower measured so far, the event recorded by the Fly’s Eye detector with a reconstructed primary energy of about 3.2 · 10 eV, is compared to simulated shower profiles. The calculations are performed with the CORSIKA code and include primary photons and different hadron primaries. For primary photons, preshower formation in the geoma...

We study the propagation of Čerenkov photons generated by Very High Energy γ−rays and hadrons in the atmosphere. The photon production height distributions are estimated from semi-empirical methods and compared with those derived by standard simulation techniques. Incident spectra at various observation altitudes are then derived after applying wavelength dependent corrections due to photon att...

We analyse a sample of 33 extensive air showers (EAS) with estimated primary energies above 2·1019 eV and high-quality muon data recorded by the Yakutsk EAS array. We compare, event-by-event, the observed muon density to that expected from CORSIKA simulations for primary protons and iron, using SIBYLL and EPOS hadronic interaction models. The study suggests the presence of two distinct hadronic...

The longitudinal profile of the most energetic cosmic-ray air shower measured so far, the event recorded by the Fly’s Eye detector with a reconstructed primary energy of about 3.2 · 10 eV, is compared to simulated shower profiles. The calculations are performed with the CORSIKA code and include primary photons and different hadron primaries. For primary photons, preshower formation in the geoma...

The model dependence of the development of extensive air showers generated by high-energy cosmic-ray particles in the atmosphere is studied. The increase of proton–proton and proton–air inelastic cross sections and values for the elasticity are varied in the hadronic interaction model QGSJET. Using the CORSIKA simulation program, the impact of these changes is investigated on air shower observa...

The energy spectrum and primary composition of cosmic rays with energy between 3 × 1014 and 3 × 1016 eV have been studied using the CASA-BLANCA detector. CASA consisted of 957 surface scintillation stations; BLANCA consisted of 144 angle-integrating Cherenkov light detectors located at the same site. CASA measured the charged particle distribution of air showers, while BLANCA measured the later...

Abstract LOPES, the LOFAR prototype station, was an antenna array for cosmic-ray air showers operating from 2003 to 2013 within KASCADE-Grande experiment. Meanwhile, analysis is finished and data of air-shower events measured by LOPES are available with open access in KASCADE Cosmic Ray Data Center (KCDC). This article intends provide a summary achievements, results, lessons learned LOPES. By d...