학술논문
Characteristics of Four Upward-pointing Cosmic-ray-like Events Observed with ANITA
Document Type
Working Paper
Author
Gorham, P. W.; Nam, J.; Romero-Wolf, A.; Hoover, S.; Allison, P.; Banerjee, O.; Beatty, J. J.; Belov, K.; Besson, D. Z.; Binns, W. R.; Bugaev, V.; Cao, P.; Chen, C.; Chen, P.; Clem, J. M.; Connolly, A.; Dailey, B.; Deaconu, C.; Cremonesi, L.; Dowkonnt, P. F.; Duvernois, M. A.; Field, R. C.; Fox, B. D.; Goldstein, D.; Gordon, J.; Hast, C.; Hebert, C. L.; Hill, B.; Hughes, K.; Hupe, R.; Israel, M. H.; Javaid, A.; Kowalski, J.; Lam, J.; Learned, J. G.; Liewer, K. M.; Liu, T. C.; Link, J. T.; Lusczek, E.; Matsuno, S.; Mercurio, B. C.; Miki, C.; Miocinovic, P.; Mottram, M.; Mulrey, K.; Naudet, C. J.; Ng, J.; Nichol, R. J.; Palladino, K.; Rauch, B. F.; Reil, K.; Roberts, J.; Rosen, M.; Rotter, B.; Russell, J.; Ruckman, L.; Saltzberg, D.; Seckel, D.; Schoorlemmer, H.; Stafford, S.; Stockham, J.; Stockham, M.; Strutt, B.; Tatem, K.; Varner, G. S.; Vieregg, A. G.; Walz, D.; Wissel, S. A.; Wu, F.
Source
Phys. Rev. Lett. 117, 071101 (2016)
Subject
Language
Abstract
We report on four radio-detected cosmic-ray (CR) or CR-like events observed with the Antarctic Impulsive Transient Antenna (ANITA), a NASA-sponsored long-duration balloon payload. Two of the four were previously identified as stratospheric CR air showers during the ANITA-I flight. A third stratospheric CR was detected during the ANITA-II flight. Here we report on characteristics these three unusual CR events, which develop nearly horizontally, 20-30~km above the surface of the Earth. In addition, we report on a fourth steeply upward-pointing ANITA-I CR-like radio event which has characteristics consistent with a primary that emerged from the surface of the ice. This suggests a possible $\tau$-lepton decay as the origin of this event, but such an interpretation would require significant suppression of the Standard Model ${\tau}$-neutrino cross section.
Comment: 5pp,4 figures, referees' comments addressed, this version accepted to Phys. Rev. Letters. Supplemental PDF material available; see source files
Comment: 5pp,4 figures, referees' comments addressed, this version accepted to Phys. Rev. Letters. Supplemental PDF material available; see source files