We show, for the first time, radio measurements of the depth of shower maximum (X_{max}) of air showers induced by cosmic rays that are compared to measurements of the established fluorescence method at the same location. Using measurements at the Pierre Auger Observatory we show full compatibility between our radio and the previously published fluorescence dataset, and between a subset of air showers observed simultaneously with both radio and fluorescence techniques, a measurement setup unique to the Pierre Auger Observatory. Furthermore, we show radio X_{max} resolution as a function of energy and demonstrate the ability to make competitive high-resolution X_{max} measurements with even a sparse radio array.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFInstantons, which are nonperturbative solutions to Yang-Mills equations, provide a signal for the occurrence of quantum tunneling between distinct classes of vacua. They can give rise to decays of particles otherwise forbidden. Using data collected at the Pierre Auger Observatory, we search for signatures of such instanton-induced processes that would be suggestive of super-heavy particles decaying in the Galactic halo.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFA major development underlying hydrodynamic turbulence theory is the similarity decay hypothesis due to von Karman and Howarth, here extended empirically to plasma turbulence in the solar wind. In similarity decay the second-order correlation experiences a continuous transformation based on a universal functional form and a rescaling of energy and characteristic length. Solar wind turbulence follows many principles adapted from classical fluid turbulence, but previously this similarity property has not been examined explicitly.
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