REAS2: CORSIKA-based Monte Carlo simulations of geosynchrotron radio emission

Abstract

Simulations of geosynchrotron radio emission from extensive air showers performed with the Monte Carlo code REAS1 used analytical parameterisations to describe the spatial, temporal, energy and angular particle distributions in air showers. The successor REAS2 replaces these parameterisations with precise, multi-dimensional histograms derived from per-shower CORSIKA simulations. REAS2 allows an independent selection between parameterisation and histogram for each of the relevant particle distributions, enabling us to study the changes arising from using a more realistic air shower model in detail. We describe the new simulation strategy and illustrate the effects introduced by the improved air shower model.