Latest results of the Codalema Experiment

Rebai Ahmed
Subatech Laboratoire de physique subatomique et des technologies
associes Nantes France IN2P3/CNRS
On behalf the Codalema Collaboration
ahmed.rebai@subatech.in2p3.fr
Codal ema Det ect or s
Since 2002, Codalema experience located
on the radio observatory site at Nanay

(France) (47.3N, 2.1E and 137 m above
sea level) aims to study the potential of the
radiodetection

technique of cosmic rays in
the 10
16

eV

energy range (detection
threshold) to 10
18

eV

(upper limit imposed
by the area surface).
Emi ssi on Mechani sm
Ener gy Cal i br at i on
Radi us of Cur vat ur e
600 m
4
0
0

m
In this regard, Codalema contains:
Scintillator

array: (17 scintillator)
gives the trigger signal for the
experiment and an estimation of
primary particle energy.
Short active antennas array: 21
antennas with E-W polarization

& 3
antennas with NS polarization. The
main array.
Decametric

array: 18 groups of 8
log-periodic phased antennas
studies the electric field topology at
small scale (< 100 m).
Time [s]
A
m
p
l
i
t
u
d
e

[
V
]
Numeric filter in the
23-83 MHz band
FM
AM
1 event = 2 physical quantities per
antenna ( amplitude V
i

, time t
i

)
+ some
Corrections :
Time delay
Attenuation
Antennas gain
Dipole antenna: 2*60 cm
Al arms, simple and
cheap, isotropic pattern
Log-periodic antenna
Codalema observes a large asymmetry in the
arrival directions between the North and the
South.
This ratio is stable in time, with increasing
statistics (see [1]).
This effect can not be due to a detector
biasthe scintillator

array has a flat azimuthal

distribution
Observation: NS asymmetry
Geomagnetic

effect
The local geomagnetic field may be the main
cause of this asymmetry through the action of
Lorentz force on the charged particles.
Suppose 2 EAS initiated by 2 primary
particles of the same energy interacted in the
same altitude. The shower from the North is

to the geomagnetic field which gives a
maximum |v^B| strong radio signal that
exceeds the Codalema detection threshold.
188 . 0
1708
322
= =

Events North
Events South
N
N
EW EW
Lobe e B v E I . ) ( cos ) sin( ) (
2
u u o
EW EW Lobe e B v E I . ) ( cos ) sin( ) (
2
u u o
Geomagnetic Model
| |

= +
+
=
N
i
x y
i i
i i
a
x a b y
1
2 2 2
2
2
) (
o o
_
The energy of the primary particle is
estimated with the CIC method
(Constant intensity Cut)
E
0

~ E
p

avec

~ 1.0

linear dependency
E
0

=a E
p

+ b Radio calibration E
Shower

=(1/a)*E
0

b/a
E
p

/E
p

~ 30 %
E
0

/E
0

< 10 %
Calibration depends on :
E
0
errors
E
p
errors
Radio signal lateral profil in the groundAllan formula : E = E
0

.exp(-d/d
0

)
E
0

on the shower axis
d
0

distance of the
shower decay
(X
0

, Y
0

) shower core
1 event = (E
0

, d
0

, X
0

, Y
0

)
The radius of curvature

of the radio wave

front can

be

a very

good
discriminant variables that

permet to distinguish

between

shower

initiated

by
protons, heavy

ions, photons and neutrinos.
Approximation 0 a plane wave front
Approximation 1 Non planar wave front

+Emission center in a distance R
We use a parabolic model to fit the radius
of curvature.
Our reconstruction is not based upon
adjusting the wavefront shape which has a
complicated geometry dependent on the
shower developpement.
Radius of Curvature distribution
maximum ~ 4 km
But interpretations difficulties (Very
large Radius observed)
Next step: Chemical composition of
UHECR ?
Concl usi ons &
Per spect i ves
Faisability of radiodedection with CODALEMA 2:

Detection of the radio signal induced by the shower developpement

Emission mechanism : geomagnetic effect

Energy Correlation

New analysis method : R
c

Exploration of CODALEMA 3 (autonomous station) (see Diego Torres

poster)
References:
[1] D.Ardouin & al., Astro Ph 31 2009
pages 192-200 Goemagnetic origin of
the radio emission