The MULTITHIN Option of the Air Shower Simulation Program CORSIKA

This report describes the MULTITHIN option implemented in the CORSIKA versions 7.4002 and later. It performs the simulation of Extensive Air Showers in the unthinned mode. In parallel it gives additionally the weight factors for up to 6 different thinning modes

The AUGERHIT Option of the Air Shower Simulation Program CORSIKA

This report describes the size reduction of the particle data output file(s) for Auger simulations. This reduction is achieved by a (random) selection of the shower core position relative to the triangular grid of detectors, as for all shower particles in the observation plane it is checked whether they arrive in the neighbourhood of a corresponding detector position. Only hitting particles are kept for the output. All other particles falling onto the Argentinian pampa far from any detector are skipped

Corrigendum: Impacts devalue the potential of large-scale terrestrial CO2 removal through biomass plantations

Due to a technical error in finalizing the manuscript (Boysen et al 2015 Environ. Res. Lett. 9 095010), the left-hand side of panel b of figure 2 does not depict the correct data values. The correct figure is as given here. The error is one of depiction only: Numbers stated and discussed in the text are correct throughout and table 2 contains the correct numbers. We regret the error in the production of the figure and apologize to readers for inconvenience this may have caused.Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft http://dx.doi.org/10.13039/501100001659Peer Reviewe

Energy Release in Air Showers

A simulation study of the energy released in air due to the development of an extensive air shower has been carried out using the CORSIKA code. The contributions to the energy release from different particle species and energies as well as the typical particle densities are investigated. Special care is taken of particles falling below the energy threshold of the simulation which contribute about 10% to the total energy deposition. The dominant contribution to the total deposition stems from electrons and positrons from sub-MeV up to a few hundred MeV, with typical transverse distances between particles exceeding 1 mm for 10 EeV showers.Comment: 12 pages, 3 figures, accepted by Astropart. Phys.; small content changes in final versio

Extensive air shower simulations at the highest energies

Air shower simulation programs are essential tools for the analysis of data from cosmic ray experiments and for planning the layout of new detectors. They are used to estimate the energy and mass of the primary particle. Unfortunately the model uncertainties translate directly into systematic errors in the energy and mass determination. Aiming at energies > 1019 eV, the models have to be extrapolated far beyond the energies available at accelerators. On the other hand, hybrid measurement of ground particle densities and calorimetric shower energy, as will be provided by the Pierre Auger Observatory, will strongly constrain shower models. While the main uncertainty of contemporary models comes from our poor knowledge of the (soft) hadronic interactions at high energies, also electromagnetic interactions, lowenergy hadronic interactions and the particle transport influence details of the shower development. We review here the physics processes and some of the computational techniques of air shower models presently used for highest energies, and discuss the properties and limitations of the models.Facultad de Ciencias Exacta

The limits to global-warming mitigation by terrestrial carbon removal

Massive near‐term greenhouse gas emissions reduction is a precondition for staying “well below 2°C” global warming as envisaged by the Paris Agreement. Furthermore, extensive terrestrial carbon dioxide removal (tCDR) through managed biomass growth and subsequent carbon capture and storage is required to avoid temperature “overshoot” in most pertinent scenarios. Here, we address two major issues: First, we calculate the extent of tCDR required to “repair” delayed or insufficient emissions reduction policies unable to prevent global mean temperature rise of 2.5°C or even 4.5°C above pre‐industrial level. Our results show that those tCDR measures are unable to counteract “business‐as‐usual” emissions without eliminating virtually all natural ecosystems. Even if considerable (Representative Concentration Pathway 4.5 [RCP4.5]) emissions reductions are assumed, tCDR with 50% storage efficiency requires >1.1 Gha of the most productive agricultural areas or the elimination of >50% of natural forests. In addition, >100 MtN/yr fertilizers would be needed to remove the roughly 320 GtC foreseen in these scenarios. Such interventions would severely compromise food production and/or biosphere functioning. Second, we reanalyze the requirements for achieving the 160–190 GtC tCDR that would complement strong mitigation action (RCP2.6) in order to avoid 2°C overshoot anytime. We find that a combination of high irrigation water input and/or more efficient conversion to stored carbon is necessary. In the face of severe trade‐offs with society and the biosphere, we conclude that large‐scale tCDR is not a viable alternative to aggressive emissions reduction. However, we argue that tCDR might serve as a valuable “supporting actor” for strong mitigation if sustainable schemes are established immediately

Towards A Next Generation of CORSIKA: A Framework for the Simulation of Particle Cascades in Astroparticle Physics

A large scientific community depends on the precise modelling of complex processes in particle cascades in various types of matter. These models are used most prevalently in cosmic-ray physics, astrophysical-neutrino physics, and gamma-ray astronomy. In this white paper, we summarize the necessary steps to ensure the evolution and future availability of optimal simulation tools. The purpose of this document is not to act as a strict blueprint for next-generation software, but to provide guidance for the vital aspects of its design. The topics considered here are driven by physics and scientific applications. Furthermore, the main consequences of implementation decisions on performance are outlined. We highlight the computational performance as an important aspect guiding the design since future scientific applications will heavily depend on an efficient use of computational resources.Peer Reviewe