Probing cosmic rays by radio emission from air showers

by Krijn de Vries (Universiteit Groningen)

Monday 15 Oct 2012, 11:00 → 12:00 Europe/Brussels

Large seminar room (IIHE (ULB-VUB))

abstract: The source and emission mechanism for cosmic rays at the highest energies is currently still unknown. To obtain more information on this, the cosmic-ray spectrum and the composition of these cosmic rays is widely searched for. Particle cascades, so-called air showers, are created when the cosmic ray interacts in Earth's atmosphere. In this seminar the detection techniques for these air showers and the latest results of the Pierre Auger Observatory will be discussed. An overview is given of the latest developments in measuring cosmic-ray-induced air showers through radio emission. Hereby, we focus on the emission mechanism and their implementation in models. Finally, an analysis is shown giving for the first time in nature strong hints for the radiation induced by the net negative charge excess in the particle shower. This mechanism is thought to be responsible for radio emission from particle cascades in ice and lunar rock.