Footprints of Super-GZK Cosmic Rays in the Pilliga State Forest

Abstract

High energy cosmic ray data collected by the SUGAR Collaboration in the Pilliga State Forest have been re-analyzed using up-to-date shower simulations. Complete, inclined angle, Monte Carlo simulations reveal 2 events with energies in excess of $7\times 10^{19}$ eV at 95% CL, independent of the choice of hadronic interaction model and of chemical composition of the primary. An additional 3 events, with mean energy $\text{agt}7\times 10^{19}$ eV, were also re-analyzed in the same manner. A lower bound on the flux at the high end of the spectrum, as observed in the Southern sky, is presented on the basis of our analysis.

Comments: 7 pages revtex, 7 figures