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 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 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 Atmospheric Monitoring at a Cosmic Ray Observatory - a long-lasting endeavour

2019 ◽  
Vol 197 ◽  
pp. 02001
Author(s):  
Bianca Keilhauer
Keyword(s):  
Cosmic Rays ◽  
Cosmic Ray ◽  
Extensive Air Showers ◽  
Pierre Auger Observatory ◽  
Ultrahigh Energy ◽  
Atmospheric Conditions ◽  
Air Showers ◽  
Atmospheric Monitoring ◽  
Surface Detector ◽  
Planning And Construction

The Pierre Auger Observatory for detecting ultrahigh energy cosmic rays has been founded in 1999. After a main planning and construction phase of about five years, the regular data taking started in 2004, but it took another four years until the full surface detector array was deployed. In parallel to the main detectors of the Observatory, a comprehensive set of instruments for monitoring the atmospheric conditions above the array was developed and installed as varying atmospheric conditions influence the development and detection of extensive air showers. The multitude of atmospheric monitoring installations at the Pierre Auger Observatory will be presented as well as the challenges and efforts to run such instruments for several decades.

scholarly journals Analysis of ELVES at the Pierre Auger Observatory

2019 ◽  
Vol 197 ◽  
pp. 03004 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. Mussa
Keyword(s):  
Night Shift ◽  
Pierre Auger Observatory ◽  
Fluorescence Detector ◽  
Transient Luminous Events ◽  
The Third ◽  
Level Trigger

In the last six years, the Fluorescence Detector (FD) of the Auger Observatory has been exploited for the study of transient luminous events occuring high above thunderstorms at large distances (250 to more than 1000 km) from the Observatory. The first ELVES candidate was discovered during a night shift in 2005, and further studies based on auxiliary subtriggers allowed to modify the third level trigger of the observatory in order to acquire them with reasonable efficiency. This report aims to briefly review the studies underway on the >4000 ELVES triggers harvested in the years 2013-18 by the Observatory.

scholarly journals Measurements of UHECR Mass Composition by Telescope Array

2019 ◽  
Vol 210 ◽  
pp. 01008
Author(s):  
William Hanlon
Keyword(s):  
Monte Carlo ◽  
Cosmic Ray ◽  
High Energy ◽  
Mass Composition ◽  
Ultra High Energy ◽  
Fluorescence Detector ◽  
Telescope Array ◽  
Second Moments ◽  
Systematic Uncertainties ◽  
Surface Detector

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.

scholarly journals Recent results from the Pierre Auger Observatory

2019 ◽  
Vol 208 ◽  
pp. 08001 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sergio Petrera
Keyword(s):  
Energy Spectrum ◽  
Cosmic Rays ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Cosmic Ray ◽  
Pierre Auger Observatory ◽  
Mass Composition ◽  
Arrival Direction ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Surface Detector

In this paper some recent results from the Pierre Auger Collaboration are presented. These are the measurement of the energy spectrum of cosmic rays over a wide range of energies (1017.5 to above 1020 eV), studies of the cosmic-ray mass composition with the fluorescence and surface detector of the Observatory, the observation of a large-scale anisotropy in the arrival direction of cosmic rays above 8 × 1018 eV and indications of anisotropy at intermediate angular scales above 4 × 1019 eV. The astrophysical implications of the spectrum and composition results are also discussed. Finally the progress of the upgrade of the Observatory, AugerPrime is presented.

scholarly journals The energy spectrum of cosmic rays beyond the turn-down around $$\varvec{10^{17}}$$ eV as measured with the surface detector of the Pierre Auger Observatory

2021 ◽  
Vol 81 (11) ◽  
Author(s):  
P. Abreu ◽  
M. Aglietta ◽  
J. M. Albury ◽  
I. Allekotte ◽  
A. Almela ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cosmic Rays ◽  
Precise Measurement ◽  
Spectral Feature ◽  
Cosmic Ray ◽  
Energy Scale ◽  
Pierre Auger Observatory ◽  
Single Measurement ◽  
Surface Detector ◽  
Single Detector ◽  
Detector Type

AbstractWe present a measurement of the cosmic-ray spectrum above 100 PeV using the part of the surface detector of the Pierre Auger Observatory that has a spacing of 750 m. An inflection of the spectrum is observed, confirming the presence of the so-called second-knee feature. The spectrum is then combined with that of the 1500 m array to produce a single measurement of the flux, linking this spectral feature with the three additional breaks at the highest energies. The combined spectrum, with an energy scale set calorimetrically via fluorescence telescopes and using a single detector type, results in the most statistically and systematically precise measurement of spectral breaks yet obtained. These measurements are critical for furthering our understanding of the highest energy cosmic rays.

scholarly journals Uma Análise Visual da Espacialização das Descargas Elétricas Atmosféricas e do Comportamento das Mortes Causadas por Raios no Estado da Bahia

2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (4) ◽  
pp. 1909-1923
Author(s):  
Ubiraci Alves Muniz Barretto ◽  
Renato Lima Novais ◽  
Frederico Jorge Ribeiro Barbosa
Keyword(s):  
Visual Analysis ◽  
Atmospheric Electricity ◽  
Education Level ◽  
The State ◽  
Space Research ◽  
Homogeneous Distribution ◽  
Western Region ◽  
Lightning Strikes ◽  
Apparent Relationship ◽  
The World

Studies released by the Atmospheric Electricity Group of the National Institute for Space Research place Brazil as the country with the highest incidence of lightning in the world, with an average of 77.8 million every year. In the period from 2000 to 2019, 2,194 deaths from lightning were recorded in the country, with every 50 deaths from lightning in the world, one is in Brazil. The objective of this work is to carry out a visual analysis of the behavior of lightning strikes in the state of Bahia, relating it to the number of deaths caused by lightning in each municipality. The goal is to investigate whether there is any relationship between the number of deaths, the region and the population.To this end, data on lightning density density and number of deaths caused by lightning were published by INPE and the Ministry of Health, respectively. The number of inhabitants provided by IBGE in each municipality in the state of Bahia was also used. Visual analysis was performed using the VYR tool. The results showed a higher incidence of discharges in the western region of the state. As for the number of deaths, there was a homogeneous distribution in the state, with an apparent relationship with the number of inhabitants of the municipalities. There was a reduction in the number of deaths in the last ten years, probably related to the increase in the education level of the population.

scholarly journals Upper limit on the cosmic-ray photon flux above 1019eV using the surface detector of the Pierre Auger Observatory

2008 ◽  
Vol 29 (4) ◽  
pp. 243-256 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Abraham ◽  
P. Abreu ◽  
M. Aglietta ◽  
C. Aguirre ◽  
D. Allard ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cosmic Ray ◽  
Pierre Auger Observatory ◽  
Photon Flux ◽  
Upper Limit ◽  
Surface Detector

scholarly journals The use of aerosol data in Auger Fluorescence Detector analysis

2019 ◽  
Vol 197 ◽  
pp. 01004
Author(s):  
Bruce R. Dawson
Keyword(s):  
Light Attenuation ◽  
Cosmic Ray ◽  
Primary Energy ◽  
Air Showers ◽  
Fluorescence Detector ◽  
Air Shower ◽  
Systematic Uncertainties ◽  
Surface Detector ◽  
Shower Maximum ◽  
Fluorescence Light

The Pierre Auger Observatory’s Fluorescence Detector (FD) consists of 27 telescopes arranged in four sites around the perimeter of the 3000 square kilometre Surface Detector (SD). Cosmic ray extensive air showers are viewed via the nitrogen fluorescence light they induce in the atmosphere. Careful treatment of light attenuation processes must be made, especially given that some showers are viewed at distances in excess of 30 km. Of particular importance is the attenuation due to scattering by aerosol particles, a challenging topic given that aerosol concentrations can vary on time-scales of hours. At the Auger Observatory, the vertical distribution of aerosols is measured hourly with a series of bi-static lidar systems (consisting of central laser facilities and each of the FD sites), and three times per night with a Raman lidar system. In this contribution we describe the use of aerosol profiles in the analysis of air shower data, in particular in the estimation of the cosmic ray primary energy, and the depth of shower maximum, Xmax. We also demonstrate how statistical and systematic uncertainties in the aerosol concentrations propagate through to a contribution to energy and Xmax uncertainties.

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