Optical Cerenkov emission from large cosmic ray air showers

Computer simulations of the optical Cerenkov emission from large cosmic ray showers indicate that the form of the lateral distribution of photons is sensitive to the longitudinal development of the electron cascade and so to the nature of the primary particle. The breadth of the computed distribution of photons, confirmed by measurements made at the Haverah Park air shower array, suggest the possibility of detection of the largest air showers widely separated, simple detectors.