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

2019 ◽  
Vol 209 ◽  
pp. 01029
Author(s):  
Daniela Mockler

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.

2019 ◽  
Vol 210 ◽  
pp. 01008
Author(s):  
William Hanlon

Telescope Array (TA) has recently published results of nearly nine years of Xmax observations providing its highest statistics measurement of ultra high energy cosmic ray (UHECR) mass composition to date for energies exceeding 1018.2 eV. This analysis measured agreement of observed data with results expected for four different single elements. Instead of relying only on the first and second moments of Xmax distributions, we employ a morphological test of agreement between data and Monte Carlo to allow for systematic uncertainties in data and in current UHECR hadronic models. Results of this latest analysis and implications of UHECR composition observed by TA are presented. TA can utilize different analysis methods to understand composition as both a crosscheck on results and as a tool to understand systematics affecting Xmax measurements. The different analysis efforts utilizing fluorescence detector stereo, surface detector and fluorescence detector hybrid, and surface detector-only, currently underway at TA performed to understand composition are also discussed.


2013 ◽  
Vol 53 (A) ◽  
pp. 698-702
Author(s):  
Aurelio F. Grillo

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.


2019 ◽  
Vol 197 ◽  
pp. 03003
Author(s):  
Roberta Colalillo

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.


2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marta Trini

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.


2013 ◽  
Vol 53 (A) ◽  
pp. 825-828 ◽  
Author(s):  
Klaus Weidenhaupt

The Auger Engineering Radio Array currently measures MHz radio emission from extensive air showers induced by high energy cosmic rays with 24 self-triggered radio detector stations. Its unique site, embedded into the baseline detectors and extensions of the Pierre Auger Observatory, allows to study air showers in great detail and to calibrate the radio emission. In its final stage AERA will expand to an area of approximately 20km<sup>2</sup> to explore the feasibility of the radio-detection technique for future cosmic-ray detectors. The concept and hardware design of AERA as well as strategies to enable self-triggered radio detection are presented. Radio emission mechanisms are discussed based on polarization analysis of the first AERA data.


2019 ◽  
Vol 216 ◽  
pp. 01010
Author(s):  
Jörg R. Hörandel

The Pierre Auger observatory is presently being upgraded to enlarge its detection capabilities for ultra-high-energy cosmic rays. Part of this upgrade is a radio detector array, aimed to cover a surface area of 3000 km2 to measure the properties of the highestenergy cosmic rays. The plans for this radio upgrade are outlined.


2019 ◽  
Vol 210 ◽  
pp. 06005 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jörg R. Hörandel ◽  

The Pierre Auger Observatory is presently being upgraded to enlarge its detection capabilities for ultra-high-energy cosmic rays. Part of this upgrade is a radio detector array, aimed to cover a surface area of 3000 km2 to measure the properties of the highest-energy cosmic rays. The plans for this radio upgrade are outlined


2011 ◽  
Vol 20 (supp02) ◽  
pp. 50-56
Author(s):  
◽  
PETER SCHIFFER

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.


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