Preface 1. Cosmic rays 2. Particle physics 3. Cascade equations 4. Hadrons and photons 5. Accelerator data 6. Muons 7. Neutrinos 8. Neutrino-induced muons 9. Propagation 10. Gamma rays and antiprotons 11. Acceleration 12. Acceleration to >100 TeV 13. Astrophysical beam dumps 14. Air showers 15. Electromagnetic cascades 16. Cosmic ray showers 17. Simulation techniques References Index.

Cosmic rays and particle physics.

Measurements of the Cosmic Ray Composition with Air Shower Experiments

This is a review of the most resent results from the investigation of the ultrahigh energy cosmic rays, particles of energy exceeding ${10}^{18}\text{ }\text{ }\mathrm{eV}$. After a general introduction to the topic and a brief review of the lower energy cosmic rays and the detection methods, the two most recent experiments, the High Resolution Fly's Eye and the Southern Auger Observatory, are described. Results from these two experiments on the cosmic ray energy spectrum, the chemical composition of these cosmic rays, and searches for their sources are presented. An analysis of the controversies in these results and the projects in development and construction that can help solve the remaining problems with these particles is also presented.

Ultrahigh energy cosmic rays

In the first part of this review we discuss the basic observational features at the end of the cosmic ray (CR) energy spectrum. We also present there the main characteristics of each of the experiments involved in the detection of these particles. We then briefly discuss the status of the chemical composition and the distribution of arrival directions of CRs. After that, we examine the energy losses during propagation, introducing the Greisen–Zaptsepin–Kuzmin (GZK) cutoff, and discuss the level of confidence with which each experiment has detected particles beyond the GZK energy limit. In the second part of the review, we discuss the astrophysical environments that are able to accelerate particles up to such high energies, including active galactic nuclei, large scale galactic wind termination shocks, relativistic jets and hot-spots of Fanaroff–Riley radio galaxies, pulsars, magnetars, quasar remnants, starbursts, colliding galaxies, and gamma ray burst fireballs. In the third part of the review we provide a brief summary of scenarios which try to explain the super-GZK events with the help of new physics beyond the standard model. In the last section, we give an overview on neutrino telescopes and existing limits on the energy spectrum and discuss some of the prospects for a new (multi-particle) astronomy. Finally, we outline how extraterrestrial neutrino fluxes can be used to probe new physics beyond the electroweak scale.

Astrophysical origins of ultrahigh energy cosmic rays

In this review we discuss the important progress made in recent years towards understanding the experimental data on cosmic rays with energies ≳ 1019 eV. We begin with a brief survey of the available data, including a description of the energy spectrum, mass composition, and arrival directions. At this point we also give a short overview of experimental techniques. After that, we introduce the fundamentals of acceleration and propagation in order to discuss the conjectured nearby cosmic ray sources. We then turn to theoretical notions of physics beyond the Standard Model where we consider both exotic primaries and exotic physical laws. Particular attention is given to the role that TeV-scale gravity could play in addressing the origin of the highest energy cosmic rays. In the final part of the review we discuss the potential of future cosmic ray experiments for the discovery of tiny black holes that should be produced in the earth's atmosphere if TeV-scale gravity is realized in Nature.

http://cds.cern.ch/record/558330/files/0206072.pdf

Ultrahigh energy cosmic rays: the state of the art before the auger observatory

Extensive air-shower trajectories and sizes (numbers of charged particles) have been measured using an optical detection system at Volcano Ranch Station near Albuquerque, New Mexico. Light produced by atomospheric scintillation and Cherenkov emission by shower particles was measured at distances of 0.7 to approx. 10 km. The shower sizes determined by the optical measurements are in satisfactory agreement (an average of 10% higher) with measurements by the ground-level scintillation-counter array at Volcano Ranch.

J. Linsley

Papers

Measurement of Light Emission from Remote Cosmic-Ray Air Showers

Observations of Extensive Air Showers by Air Fluorescence Description of Experimental Techniques