# ARENA 2016

7-10 June 2016
Groningen, Netherlands
Europe/Amsterdam timezone

## The influence of the atmospheric refractive index on radio measurements of extensive air showers

9 Jun 2016, 10:10
20m
Groningen, Netherlands

#### Groningen, Netherlands

Hampshire Plaza Hotel

### Description

Measurements of radio emission from extensive air showers, together with air shower simulations, have allowed to infer the height of maximum emission ($X_{\rm max}$) for individual air showers to a precision of 18 g/cm$^2$, important for composition studies.
In this procedure, one of the major systematic uncertainties arises from variations of the refractive index in the atmosphere. The refractive index $n$ varies with temperature and humidity, and the variations can make on the order of 10 % difference in ($n$-1).
Using CoREAS simulations, we have evaluated the systematic error arising from the uncertainty in the refractive index.
Also, we give an interpretation in terms of a simple, physical model.