A Search for Photons with Energies Above 2 × 1017^{17} eV Using Hybrid Data from the Low-Energy Extensions of the Pierre Auger Observatory

Abstract

Ultra-high-energy photons with energies exceeding 1017^{17} eV offer a wealth of connections to different aspects of cosmic-ray astrophysics as well as to gamma-ray and neutrino astronomy. The recent observations of photons with energies in the 1015^{15} eV range further motivate searches for even higher-energy photons. In this paper, we present a search for photons with energies exceeding 2 × 1017^{17} eV using about 5.5 yr of hybrid data from the low-energy extensions of the Pierre Auger Observatory. The upper limits on the integral photon flux derived here are the most stringent ones to date in the energy region between 1017^{17} and 1018^{18} eV

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