Computer simulations of Cerenkov light from large cosmic-ray showers

Detailed computer simulations have been made for the air Cerenkov radiation produced in large cosmic-ray showers. The hadron cascade employed in the air shower simulation incorporates Feynman scaling; primary particles ranging in mass from protons to iron nuclei are considered. The simulation results compare well with recent measurements of the average characteristics of Cerenkov light from large cosmic-ray showers made with a synchronized array of fast photomultipliers at the Haverah Park EAS array; satisfactory overall agreement is found between the observations and the predictions for showers of primary energy (approximately 2.1017-: approximately 2.1018)eV having their electron cascade maximum at depths in the atmosphere of (approximately 680-: approximately 770)g cm-2. For the cascade model employed here these depths of maximum arise for a heavy primary mass composition. (author)