scholarly journals Multi-messenger Astrophysics at Ultra-High Energy with the Pierre Auger Observatory

2019 ◽  
Vol 210 ◽  
pp. 03002
Author(s):  
Jaime Alvarez-Muñiz ◽  

The study of correlations between observations of fundamentally different nature from extreme cosmic sources promises extraordinary physical insights into the Universe. With the Pierre Auger Observatory, we can significantly contribute to multi-messenger astrophysics by searching for ultra-high energy particles, particularly neutrinos and photons which, being electrically neutral, point back to their origin. Using Pierre Auger Observatory data, stringent limits at EeV energies have been established on the photon and neutrino fluxes from a large fraction of the sky, probing the production mechanisms of ultra-high energy cosmic rays. The good angular resolution and the neutrino identification capabilities of the Observatory at EeV energies allow the follow-up of events detected in gravitational waves, such as the binary mergers observed with the Advanced LIGO/Virgo detectors, or from other energetic sources of particles.

4open ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 3 ◽  
pp. 4
Author(s):  
Julien Souchard

The Pierre Auger Observatory is an Ultra-High Energy Cosmic Ray (UHECR) detector which has studied cosmic particles with energies above and around 1018 eV for more than 15 years. It has proved to be the most competitive instrument at these energies and has produced a wealth of valuable results, improving our understanding of UHECRs. A complete understanding of these highest energy particles is crucial to understand the extreme astrophysical events in which they are produced and accelerated, as well as their propagation to Earth. In the same range of energies, UHE photons and neutrinos are of paramount importance as, being electrically neutral, they point back to their origin while charged particles are deflected in the galactic and extragalactic magnetic fields. The flux of extragalactic photons, neutrinos, and cosmic rays are believed to be highly linked, by their origin and their interactions. Each messenger provides different information about the potential sources, and having detection means for all four messengers, including gravitational waves, allows us to shed light on energetic sources of astroparticles. The Pierre Auger Observatory benefits from a large exposure and a good angular resolution, and is efficient in detecting UHE photons and neutrinos. These performances make possible follow-up searches for events detected by gravitational waves, such as the binary mergers observed by the LIGO/Virgo detectors, or any other energetic sources of particles.


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.


2012 ◽  
Vol 18 ◽  
pp. 221-229
Author(s):  
◽  
J. R. T. DE MELLO NETO

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.


2019 ◽  
Vol 209 ◽  
pp. 01053
Author(s):  
Francisco Pedreira

The study of correlations between observations of different messengers from extreme sources of the Universe has emerged as an outstanding way to make progress in astrophysics. The Pierre Auger Observatory is capable of significant contributions as an ultra-high energy particle detector, particularly through its capability to search for inclined showers produced by neutrinos. We describe the neutrino searches made with the Observatory with particular emphasis on the recent results following the detections of gravitational waves from binary mergers with Advanced LIGO and VIRGO, leading to competitive limits.


Author(s):  
A. Aab ◽  
◽  
P. Abreu ◽  
M. Aglietta ◽  
J. M. Albury ◽  
...  

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.


2013 ◽  
Vol 28 (18) ◽  
pp. 1350075
Author(s):  
HANG BAE KIM

We study the anisotropy in the arrival directions of Pierre Auger Observatory (PAO) ultra-high-energy cosmic rays (UHECRs), using the point source correlational angular distance distribution (CADD). The result shows that the anisotropy is characterized by one prominent excess region and one void region. The excess region is located near the Centaurus A direction, supporting that the Centaurus A is a promising UHECR source. The void region near the south pole direction may be used to limit the diffuse isotropic background contribution.


2019 ◽  
Vol 64 (7) ◽  
pp. 646
Author(s):  
I. Valiño

We highlight the main results obtained by the Pierre Auger Collaboration in its quest to unveil the mysteries associated with the nature and origin of the ultra-high energy cosmic rays, the highest-energy particles in the Universe. The observatory has steadily produced high-quality data for more than 15 years, which have already led to a number of major breakthroughs in the field contributing to the advance of our understanding of these extremely energetic particles. The interpretation of our measurements so far opens new questions which will be addressed by the on-going upgrade of the Pierre Auger Observatory.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document