scholarly journals The observation of lightning-related events with the Surface Detector of the Pierre Auger Observatory

2019 ◽  
Vol 197 ◽  
pp. 03003
Author(s):  
Roberta Colalillo
Keyword(s):  
Electric Fields ◽  
Atmospheric Electricity ◽  
High Energy ◽  
Pierre Auger Observatory ◽  
Frequency Noise ◽  
Fluorescence Detector ◽  
High Energy Cosmic Rays ◽  
Surface Detector ◽  
Valid Instrument ◽  
Big Events

The Pierre Auger Observatory, designed to detect ultra-high energy cosmic rays, can be a valid instrument at the ground to study phenomena related to the atmospheric electricity. The fluorescence detector is a powerful instrument to observe ELVES thanks to its excellent time resolution, while peculiar events with a large number of triggered stations have been recorded by the surface detector. The characteristic signal of these events lasts more than 10 μs, about two orders of magnitude more than the duration of a signal produced by a cosmic muon. Moreover, each of these events has at least one station with a signal dominated by a high-frequency noise that could be related with a lightning-induced signal. Stations with a long-lasting signal are arranged in a disk shape. There are “big” events characterized by a radius of about 6 km and few “small” events with a radius of about 2-3 km. The signal, generated by a source very close to the ground, first reaches the innermost stations and then spreads outwards. In the “big” events, a lack of signal in some of the central stations was observed. Further studies and checks are in progress to understand the origin of the lack of signal and what mechanisms occurring during the lightning evolution may provide for electric fields capable of generating and accelerating particles that can produce Cherenkov light in the stations of the surface detector.

scholarly journals Measurement of the cosmic ray spectrum with the Pierre Auger Observatory

2019 ◽  
Vol 209 ◽  
pp. 01029
Author(s):  
Daniela Mockler
Keyword(s):  
Cosmic Rays ◽  
Cosmic Ray ◽  
High Energy ◽  
Pierre Auger Observatory ◽  
Detector Array ◽  
Data Sets ◽  
Fluorescence Detector ◽  
High Energy Cosmic Rays ◽  
Systematic Uncertainties ◽  
Surface Detector

The flux of ultra-high energy cosmic rays above 3×1017 eV has been measured with unprecedented precision at the Pierre Auger Observatory. The flux of the cosmic rays is determined by four different measurements. The surface detector array provides three data sets, two formed by dividing the data into two zenith angle ranges, and one obtained from a nested, denser detector array. The fourth measurement is obtained with the fluorescence detector. By combing all four data sets, the all-sky flux of cosmic rays is determined. The spectral features are discussed in detail and systematic uncertainties are addressed.

scholarly journals Atmospheric Electricity Studies at the Pierre Auger Observatory: Signal Comparisons between Lightning and Cosmic Ray Events

2019 ◽  
Vol 210 ◽  
pp. 05007
Author(s):  
Kevin-Druis Merenda ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Task Force ◽  
Atmospheric Electricity ◽  
Cosmic Ray ◽  
Pierre Auger Observatory ◽  
Fluorescence Detector ◽  
Lightning Strikes ◽  
Transient Luminous Events ◽  
The World ◽  
Surface Detector ◽  
Atmospheric Phenomena

The research horizons of the Pierre Auger Cosmic-Ray Observatory widened when the collaboration found exotic (atmospheric) phenomena in both its Fluorescence Detector (FD) and Surface Detector (SD). The Cosmology and Geophysics task force of the Auger Collaboration focused some of its attention on these highly energetic events, which are correlated to some of the most intense convective thunderstorm systems in the world. In this proceeding, we compare the signal of these exotic events and the signal of cosmic rays, as seen in the FD and the SD. The FD has triggered on numerous transient luminous events, dubbed “elves" since their first observation in 2005. The SD observed peculiar events with radially expanding footprints, which are correlated with lightning strikes reconstructed by the World Wide Lightning Location Network (WWLLN). The traced signals of both of these atmospheric events last longer in time than cosmic ray signals. The footprints are much larger; typically more SD stations (or more FD pixels) contribute to the observations.

scholarly journals Direct measurement of the muonic content of extensive air showers between $$\mathbf { 2\times 10^{17}}$$ and $$\mathbf {2\times 10^{18}}~$$eV at the Pierre Auger Observatory

2020 ◽  
Vol 80 (8) ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Aab ◽  
◽  
P. Abreu ◽  
M. Aglietta ◽  
J. M. Albury ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Direct Measurement ◽  
High Energy ◽  
Extensive Air Showers ◽  
Pierre Auger Observatory ◽  
Ultra High Energy ◽  
Air Showers ◽  
Fluorescence Detector ◽  
High Energy Cosmic Rays ◽  
Air Shower ◽  
Attenuation Corrected

Abstract The hybrid design of the Pierre Auger Observatory allows for the measurement of the properties of extensive air showers initiated by ultra-high energy cosmic rays with unprecedented precision. By using an array of prototype underground muon detectors, we have performed the first direct measurement, by the Auger Collaboration, of the muon content of air showers between $$2\times 10^{17}$$2×1017 and $$2\times 10^{18}$$2×1018 eV. We have studied the energy evolution of the attenuation-corrected muon density, and compared it to predictions from air shower simulations. The observed densities are found to be larger than those predicted by models. We quantify this discrepancy by combining the measurements from the muon detector with those from the Auger fluorescence detector at $$10^{{17.5}}\, {\mathrm{eV}} $$1017.5eV and $$10^{{18}}\, {\mathrm{eV}} $$1018eV. We find that, for the models to explain the data, an increase in the muon density of $$38\%$$38%$$\pm 4\% (12\%)$$±4%(12%)$$\pm {}^{21\%}_{18\%}$$±18%21% for EPOS-LHC, and of $$50\% (53\%)$$50%(53%)$$\pm 4\% (13\%)$$±4%(13%)$$\pm {}^{23\%}_{20\%}$$±20%23% for QGSJetII-04, is respectively needed.

scholarly journals THE MASS COMPOSITION OF ULTRA HIGH ENERGY COSMIC RAYS

2013 ◽  
Vol 53 (A) ◽  
pp. 698-702
Author(s):  
Aurelio F. Grillo
Keyword(s):  
Cosmic Rays ◽  
Particle Physics ◽  
High Energy ◽  
Pierre Auger Observatory ◽  
Mass Composition ◽  
Ultra High Energy ◽  
Fluorescence Detector ◽  
High Energy Cosmic Rays ◽  
The Status ◽  
Composition Measurements

The status of the Mass Composition measurements of Ultra High Energy Cosmic Rays is presented, with emphasis on the results from the Fluorescence Detector of the Pierre Auger Observatory. Possible consequences of the present measurements are discussed, both on the particle physics and astrophysics aspects.

scholarly journals Ultra-high energy neutrinos searches with the Pierre Auger Observatory

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marta Trini
Keyword(s):  
Cosmic Rays ◽  
Dominant Role ◽  
High Energy ◽  
Pierre Auger Observatory ◽  
Ultra High Energy ◽  
High Energy Cosmic Rays ◽  
Neutrino Production ◽  
Surface Detector ◽  
High Energy Neutrinos ◽  
Ultra High Energy Neutrinos

In the EeV range, neutrinos are expected to be produced by ultra-high energy cosmic rays interactions with the Cosmic Microwave Background during propagation in the Universe. We report on the search for ultra-high energy neutrinos in data collected with the Surface Detector of the Pierre Auger Observatory. The searches are most efficient in the zenith angle range from 60 degrees to 95 degrees with tau neutrinos skimming in the Earth playing a dominant role. The present non-detection of UHE neutrinos in the Pierre Auger Observatory excludes the most optimistic scenarios of neutrino production in terms of UHE cosmic rays chemical composition and cosmological evolution of the acceleration sites. We also report on the searches for neutrinos in coincidence with the recent Gravitational Wave events detected by LIGO/Virgo.

ENERGY ORDERING EFFECTS IN THE ARRIVAL DIRECTIONS OF ULTRA-HIGH ENERGY COSMIC RAYS MEASURED BY THE PIERRE AUGER OBSERVATORY

2011 ◽  
Vol 20 (supp02) ◽  
pp. 50-56
Author(s):  
◽  
PETER SCHIFFER
Keyword(s):  
Cosmic Rays ◽  
Magnetic Fields ◽  
Charged Particles ◽  
High Energy ◽  
Pierre Auger Observatory ◽  
Ultra High Energy ◽  
High Energy Cosmic Rays ◽  
Ordering Effects ◽  
Arrival Directions

The Pierre Auger Observatory is the world's largest experiment for the measurement of ultra-high energy cosmic rays (UHECRs). These UHECRs are assumed to be to be charged particles, and thus are deflected in cosmic magnetic fields. Recent results of the Pierre Auger Observatory addressing the complex of energy ordering of the UHECRs arrival directions are reviewed in this contribution. So far no significant energy ordering has been observed.

ULTRA HIGH ENERGY COSMIC RAYS WITH THE PIERRE AUGER OBSERVATORY

2012 ◽  
Vol 18 ◽  
pp. 221-229
Author(s):  
◽  
J. R. T. DE MELLO NETO
Keyword(s):  
Energy Spectrum ◽  
Cosmic Rays ◽  
Cross Section ◽  
High Energy ◽  
Pierre Auger Observatory ◽  
Mass Composition ◽  
Ultra High Energy ◽  
High Energy Cosmic Rays ◽  
The Status ◽  
Shower Maximum

We present the status and the recent measurements from the Pierre Auger Observatory. The energy spectrum is described and its features discussed. We report searches for anisotropy of cosmic rays arrival directions in large scales and through correlation with catalogues of celestial objects. The measurement of the cross section proton-air is discussed. Finally, the mass composition is addressed with the measurements of the variation of the depth of shower maximum with energy and with the muon density at ground.

scholarly journals Supergalactic Structure of Multiplets with the Telescope Array Surface Detector

2019 ◽  
Vol 210 ◽  
pp. 01006 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jon Paul Lundquist ◽  
Pierre V. Sokolsky
Keyword(s):  
Magnetic Fields ◽  
Spherical Surface ◽  
High Energy ◽  
Ultra High Energy ◽  
Telescope Array ◽  
High Energy Cosmic Rays ◽  
Surface Detector ◽  
Trial Probability ◽  
Post Trial ◽  
Event Energy

Evidence of supergalactic structure of multiplets has been found for ultra-high energy cosmic rays (UHECR) with energies above 1019 eV using 7 years of data from the Telescope Array (TA) surface detector. The tested hypothesis is that UHECR sources, and intervening magnetic fields, may be correlated with the supergalactic plane, as it is a fit to the average matter density within the GZK horizon. This structure is measured by the average behavior of the strength of intermediate-scale correlations between event energy and position (multiplets). These multiplets are measured in wedge-like shapes on the spherical surface of the fieldof-view to account for uniform and random magnetic fields. The evident structure found is consistent with toy-model simulations of a supergalactic magnetic sheet and the previously published Hot/Coldspot results of TA. The post-trial probability of this feature appearing by chance, on an isotropic sky, is found by Monte Carlo simulation to be ~4.5σ.

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