Cherenkov light of a 1 TeV proton shower

The following image shows the lateral distribution of Cherenkov light of an air shower initiated by a vertical proton of 1 TeV (1012 eV) energy. The area displayed covers 400*400 m2 with the shower core at the centre. Click on any point on this image to view what an ideal telescope of 100 m2 mirror area would see at that point. The telescope images have a field-of-view of 10*10 degree2, centered at the shower direction.


Clickable image:
Proton, 1 TeV


Technical details:
Simulation with CORSIKA 4.50 without any atmospheric extinction. Shower direction is vertical. The observation is assumed to be at a height of 2200 m. For efficiency reasons, Cherenkov photons were calculated in bunches of up to 10. In the lateral distribution white pixels correspond to 80 or more photons per m2 in the wavelength range 300-450 nm. In the telescope images white corresponds to 30 or more photons per 0.1*0.1 degree2 for a telescope area of 100 m2.


If you are interested in the particles arriving at the ground in such an air shower, then look at the following plot combining the Cherenkov light lateral distribution and the impact points of all electrons/positrons and muons at an altitude of 2200 m.