scholarly journals Simulation of the optical performance of the Fluorescence detector Array of Single-pixel Telescopes

2019 ◽  
Vol 210 ◽  
pp. 05014
Author(s):  
Miroslav Pech ◽  
Justin Albury ◽  
Jose A. Bellido ◽  
John Farmer ◽  
Toshihiro Fujii ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Low Cost ◽  
High Energy ◽  
Detector Array ◽  
Large Field ◽  
Spherical Mirror ◽  
Optical Performance ◽  
Large Area ◽  
Fluorescence Detector ◽  
High Energy Cosmic Rays ◽  
Single Pixel

The Fluorescence detector Array of Single-pixel Telescopes (FAST) is a proposed large-area, next-generation experiment for the detection of ultra-high energy cosmic rays via the atmospheric fluorescence technique. The telescope’s large field-of-view (30 ×30) is imaged by four 200 mm photomultiplier-tubes at the focal plane of a segmented spherical mirror of 1.6 m diameter. Two prototypes are installed and taking data at the Black Rock Mesa site of the Telescope Array experiment in central Utah, USA. We present the process used for optimization of the optical performance of this compact and low-cost telescope, which is based on a simulation of the telescope’s optical point spread function.

scholarly journals Atmospheric monitoring with the Fluorescence detector Array of Single-pixel Telescopes

2019 ◽  
Vol 197 ◽  
pp. 02002
Author(s):  
Dusan Mandat ◽  
Toshihiro Fujii ◽  
Max Malacari ◽  
John Farmer ◽  
Xiaochen Ni ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cosmic Rays ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Ultra Violet ◽  
Field Of View ◽  
Detector Array ◽  
Fluorescence Technique ◽  
Ultrahigh Energy ◽  
Fluorescence Detector ◽  
Telescope Array ◽  
Single Pixel

The Fluorescence detector Array of Single-pixel Telescopes (FAST) is a proposed low-cost, largearea, next-generation experiment for the detection of ultrahigh-energy cosmic rays (UHECRs) via the atmospheric fluorescence technique. Two FAST telescopes are currently installed and operating at the Black Rock Mesa site of the Telescope Array Experiment in Utah, USA. Knowledge of the properties of the atmosphere above the detector is of utmost importance for the analysis and reconstruction of the energy and trajectory of UHECRs measured with an atmospheric fluorescence telescope. The FAST experiment uses all sky camera (FASCam) and sky quality monitor (SQM) for the detection of clouds and quantification of the night-sky background light in the field-of-view of the telescopes. Measurements of a vertically-fired ultra-violet laser at a distance of 21 km from the FAST telescopes are used to infer the transparency of the atmosphere above the detector through comparison with simulations.

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 A next-generation ground array for the detection of ultrahigh-energy cosmic rays: the Fluorescence detector Array of Single-pixel Telescopes (FAST)

2019 ◽  
Vol 210 ◽  
pp. 06003
Author(s):  
Toshihiro Fujii ◽  
Max Malacari ◽  
Justin Albury ◽  
Jose A. Bellido ◽  
Ladislav Chytka ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cosmic Rays ◽  
Full Scale ◽  
Pierre Auger Observatory ◽  
Detector Array ◽  
Ultrahigh Energy ◽  
Next Generation ◽  
Fluorescence Detector ◽  
Telescope Array ◽  
Ultrahigh Energy Cosmic Rays ◽  
Single Pixel

The origin and nature of ultrahigh-energy cosmic rays (UHECRs) is one of the most intriguing and important mysteries in astroparticle physics. The two largest observatories currently in operation, the Telescope Array Experiment in central Utah, USA, and the Pierre Auger Observatory in western Argentina, have been steadily observing UHECRs in both hemispheres for over a decade. We highlight the latest results from both of these experiments, and address the requirements for a next-generation UHECR observatory. The Fluorescence detector Array of Single-pixel Telescopes (FAST) is a design concept for a next-generation UHECR observa-tory, addressing the requirements for a large-area, low-cost detector suitable for measuring the properties of the highest energy cosmic rays with an unprecedented aperture. We have developed a full-scale prototype consisting of four 200 mm photomultiplier-tubes at the focus of a segmented mirror of 1.6 m in diameter. Over the last three years, we installed three such prototypes at the Black Rock Mesa site of the Telescope Array Experiment. These telescopes have been steadily taking data since installation. We report on preliminary results of the full-scale FAST prototypes, including measurements of distant ultraviolet lasers and UHECRs. Futhermore, we discuss our plan to install an additional identical FAST prototype at the Pierre Auger Observatory. Possible benefits to the Telescope Array and the Pierre Auger Observatory include a comparison of the transparency of the atmosphere above both experiments, a study of the systematic uncertainty associated with their existing fluorescence detectors, and a cross-calibration of their energy and Xmax scales.

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 Detection of UHECRs with the EUSO-TA Telescope

2019 ◽  
Vol 210 ◽  
pp. 05005
Author(s):  
F. Bisconti ◽  
J.W. Belz ◽  
M.E. Bertaina ◽  
M. Casolino ◽  
T. Ebisuzaki ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cosmic Ray ◽  
Laser Pulses ◽  
High Energy ◽  
Field Of View ◽  
Detection Capability ◽  
Fluorescence Detector ◽  
High Energy Cosmic Rays ◽  
Focal Surface ◽  
Fresnel Lenses ◽  
Fluorescence Light

EUSO-TA is a cosmic ray detector developed by the JEM-EUSO (Joint Experiment Missions for Extreme Universe Space Observatory) Collaboration, observing during nighttime the fluorescence light emitted along the path of extensive air showers in the atmosphere. It is installed at the Telescope Array site in Utah, USA, in front of the fluorescence detector station at Black Rock Mesa. It serves as a ground-based pathfinder experiment for future space-based missions. EUSO-TA has an optical system with two Fresnel lenses and a focal surface with 6 × 6 multi-anode photomultiplier tubes with 64 channels each, for a total of 2304 channels. The overall field of view is ∼10.6°× 10.6°. This detector technology allows the detection of cosmic ray events with high spatial resolution, having each channel a field of view of about ∼0.2° × 0.2° and a temporal resolution of 2.5 µs. First observations of ultra-high energy cosmic rays revealed the cosmic ray detection capability of EUSO-TA. The foreseen upgrade of EUSO-TA will improve the efficiency of the detector and will increase the statistics of detected events. In this work we present recent results of the detection capability of EUSO-TA and its limits. Moreover, other results about the analysis of laser pulses, stars and meteors will be discussed.

scholarly journals Cloud monitoring system at Telescope Array site by Visible Fisheye CCD

2019 ◽  
Vol 210 ◽  
pp. 05016
Author(s):  
Ryo Nakamura ◽  
Takayuki Tomida ◽  
Yasunori Saito ◽  
Katsuya Yamazaki
Keyword(s):  
Cosmic Rays ◽  
Monitoring System ◽  
Ccd Camera ◽  
High Energy ◽  
Fluorescence Detector ◽  
Telescope Array ◽  
Energy Estimation ◽  
High Energy Cosmic Rays ◽  
Observation Area ◽  
Cloud Monitoring

The Telescope Array (TA) is an international experiment studying ultra-high energy cosmic rays. TA uses the fluorescence detection technique to observe cosmic rays. In order to estimate the energy of cosmic rays with a fluorescence detector (FD), it is necessary to measure the condition of the observation area. Clouds affect the accuracy of the energy estimation. It is necessary to measure the existence of clouds and their direction in the Field Of View (FOV) of the FD. We developed a cloud monitoring system to measure the night sky weather using a CCD camera. In this report, we present our progress on our CCD cloud monitoring system.

scholarly journals Blazar jet physics in the age of Fermi

2010 ◽  
Vol 6 (S275) ◽  
pp. 111-121 ◽  
Author(s):  
Charles D. Dermer
Keyword(s):  
Gamma Ray ◽  
High Energy ◽  
Jet Physics ◽  
Theoretical Studies ◽  
Ultra High Energy ◽  
Large Area ◽  
High Energy Cosmic Rays ◽  
Spectrum Radio ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Radio Quasar

AbstractThe impact of the Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope on blazar research is reviewed. This includes a brief description of the Fermi Large Area Telescope, a summary of the various classes of extragalactic sources found in the First Large Area Telescope AGN Catalog, and more detailed discussion of the flat spectrum radio quasar 3C454.3 and the BL Lac object PKS 2155-304. Some theoretical studies related to ongoing blazar research with Fermi are mentioned, including implications of γ-ray observations of radio galaxies on blazar unification scenarios, variability in colliding shells, and whether blazars are sources of ultra-high energy cosmic rays.

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