[en] A classic procedure for estimating the energy of giant air showers in terms of the parameter s(600) (density of energy deposition in a scintillator at a distance of 600 m from the shower axis) is analyzed on the basis of the model of quark-gluon strings. A simulation of the signal s(600) by means of the CORSIKA code leads to estimates of energy that are approximately 1.6 times lower than those adopted at the Yakutsk array. Estimates of energy on the basis of Cherenkov radiation agree with experimental data within the errors. Calculations of the distributions of energy deposited in the atmosphere indicate that more than 20% of this energy can be deposited at distances in excess of 100 m from the shower axis

[en] A new project is developed with the implementation of a relatively new method of studying primary cosmic rays—the detection of reflected from the snow surface optical Vavilov-Cherenkov radiation from extensive air showers. The aim of the new project is to study the cosmic ray mass composition in the energy range of 1–100 PeV. Silicon photomultipliers are planned to be used as the main photosensitive element of the detector and an unmanned aerial vehicle is going to be used to lift the measuring equipment over the snow surface.

[en] We present an event-by-event study of cosmic ray (CR) composition with the reflected Cherenkov light method. The fraction of CR light component above 5 PeV was reconstructed using the 2013 run data of the SPHERE experiment which observed optical Vavilov-Cherenkov radiation of extensive air showers, reflected from snow surface of Lake Baikal. Additionally, we discuss a possibility to improve the elemental groups separability by means of multidimensional criteria. (paper)

[en] Here is presented the current state of the SPHERE-2 balloon-borne experiment. The detector is elevated up to 1 km above the snow surface and registers the reflected Vavilov-Cherenkov radiation from extensive air showers. This method has good sensitivity to the mass-composition of the primary cosmic rays due to its high resolution near the shower axis. The detector consists of a 1500 mm spherical mirror with a 109 PMT cluster in its focus. The electronics record a signal pulse profile in each PMT. In the last 2 years the detector was upgraded: time resolution of pulse registration was enhanced up to 12.5 ns, channel sensitivity was increased by a factor of 3, a new LED-based relative PMT calibration method was introduced, and new hardware and etc. was installed.

[en] First preliminary results of the balloon-borne experiment SPHERE-2 on the all-nuclei primary cosmic rays (PCR) spectrum and primary composition are presented. The primary spectrum in the energy range 10¹⁶–5 · 10¹⁷ eV was reconstructed using characteristics of Vavilov-Cherenkov radiation of extensive air showers (EAS), reflected from a snow surface. Several sources of systematic uncertainties of the spectrum were analysed. A method for separation of the primary nuclei' groups based on the lateral distribution function' (LDF) steepness parameter is presented. Preliminary estimate of the mean light nuclei' fraction f_30-150 at energies 3 · 10¹⁶–1.5 · 10¹⁷ eV was performed and yielded f_30-150 = (21±11)%.

[en] In order to construct the energy spectrum on the basis of data from the Yakutsk array, a method similar to that employed at the AGASA array is applied in addition to the standard approach based on experimental procedures. Moreover, a new, original, method underlying the calculation of the spectrum in the region of energies above 10²⁰ eV is used to estimate energies. In order to compare data obtained at different arrays, it is proposed to harness the universal spectrum based on HiRes data. Within the QGSJET2 model, it is shown that a shower of energy 2 x 10²⁰ eV was observed at the Yakutsk array. In the same energy region (above 2 x 10²⁰ eV), the AGASA array recorded four showers, while the Fly's Eye array and Pierre Auger Observatory (PAO) recorded one shower each. These data do not confirm the conclusion that the flux of primary-cosmic-ray particles decreases because of the Greisen-Zatsepin-Kuzmin effect.

[en] Although a large number of experiments were carried out during the last few decades, the uncertainty in the spectrum of all nuclei of primary cosmic rays (PCRs) with superhigh energies is still high, and the results of many experiments on nuclear composition of PCRs are contradictory. An overview of the SPHERE experiment on detecting Vavilov-Cherenkov radiation from extensive air shower (EAS) reflected from a ground snow surface is given. A number of experimental studies implementing this method are presented and their results are analyzed. Some other popular methods of studying PCRs with superhigh energies (E₀ > 10¹⁵ eV) and their main advantages and drawbacks are briefly considered. The detecting equipment of the SPHERE-2 experiment and the technique of its calibration are considered. The optical properties of snow, which are important for experiments on reflected Cherenkov light (CL) from EAS, are discussed and the history of observing reflected EAS CL is described. The algorithm of simulating the detector response and calculating the fiducial acceptance of shower detection is described. The procedure of processing the experimental data with a subsequent reconstruction of the spectrum of all PCR nuclei and analysis of the mass composition is shown. The first results of reconstructing the spectrum and separating groups of cosmic-ray nuclei with high energies in the SPHERE-2 experiment are presented. Main sources of systematic errors are considered. The prospects of developing the technique of observation of reflected EAS CL in future experiments are discussed.

[en] Direct Dark Matter searches are nowadays one of the most fervid research topics with many experimental efforts devoted to the search for nuclear recoils induced by the scattering of Weakly Interactive Massive Particles (WIMPs). Detectors able to reconstruct the direction of the nucleus recoiling against the scattering WIMP are opening a new frontier to possibly extend Dark Matter searches beyond the neutrino background. Exploiting directionality would also prove the galactic origin of Dark Matter with an unambiguous signal-to-background separation. Indeed, the angular distribution of recoiled nuclei is centered around the direction of the Cygnus constellation, while the background distribution is expected to be isotropic. Current directional experiments are based on gas TPC whose sensitivity is limited by the small achievable detector mass. In this paper we present the discovery potential of a directional experiment based on the use of a solid target made of newly developed nuclear emulsions and of optical read-out systems reaching unprecedented nanometric resolution. (orig.)

[en] The OPERA detector, designed to search for ν_μ → ν_τ oscillations in the CNGS beam, is located in the underground Gran Sasso laboratory, a privileged location to study TeV-scale cosmic rays. For the analysis here presented, the detector was used to measure the atmospheric muon charge ratio in the TeV region. OPERA collected charge separated cosmic ray data between 2008 and 2012. More than 3 million atmospheric muon events were detected and reconstructed, among which about 110000 multiple muon bundles. The charge ratio R_μ ≡ N_μ+/N_μ- was measured separately for single and for multiple muon events. The analysis exploited the inversion of the magnet polarity which was performed on purpose during the 2012 Run. The combination of the two data sets with opposite magnet polarities allowed minimizing systematic uncertainties and reaching an accurate determination of the muon charge ratio. Data were fitted to obtain relevant parameters on the composition of primary cosmic rays and the associated kaon production in the forward fragmentation region. In the surface energy range 1-20 TeV investigated by OPERA, R_μ is well described by a parametric model including only pion and kaon contributions to the muon flux, showing no significant contribution of the prompt component. The energy independence supports the validity of Feynman scaling in the fragmentation region up to 200 TeV/nucleon primary energy. (orig.)

[en] The OPERA experiment was designed to search for ν_μ → ν_τ oscillations in appearance mode through the direct observation of tau neutrinos in the CNGS neutrino beam. In this paper, we report a study of the multiplicity of charged particles produced in charged-current neutrino interactions in lead. We present charged hadron average multiplicities, their dispersion and investigate the KNO scaling in different kinematical regions. The results are presented in detail in the form of tables that can be used in the validation of Monte Carlo generators of neutrino-lead interactions. (orig.)