Studying ultrahigh-energy cosmic rays using Monte Carlo simulations

• Grant number: 20/03137-0
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Effective date (Start): June 01, 2020
• Effective date (End): December 31, 2020
• Field of knowledge: Physical Sciences and Mathematics - Physics - Elementary Particle Physics and Fields
• Principal Investigator: Carola Dobrigkeit Chinellato
• Grantee: Joao Vitor Reginatto Akim
• Host Institution: Instituto de Física Gleb Wataghin (IFGW). Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP). Campinas , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 19/10151-2 - Study of Ultra-High Energy Cosmic Rays with the Pierre Auger Observatory upgrade AugerPrime, AP.TEM

Abstract

The project aims to introduce the student to the study of cosmic rays using Monte Carlo simulations. As an application, we will study autocorrelation in cosmic-ray data and apply statistical tests on angular distributions of measured and simulated distributions, comparing the results and checking for consistency with the hypotheses assumed in the simulation. The data consist of arrival directions of ultrahigh-energy cosmic rays detected at the Pierre Auger Observatory in fifteen years of operation. The simulated sets, each composed of the same number of arrival directions as in the data, will be sampled from an isotropic distribution. This IC project is related to the thematic project FAPESP #2019/10151-2. It aims to provide the student with an introduction to some applications of Monte Carlo simulations to analyses of ultrahigh-energy cosmic rays detected by the Pierre Auger Observatory and eventually preparing him for a graduate project in the field. The project foresees activities for eight months up to his graduation. (AU)