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 Measurement of the cosmic ray proton spectrum from 40 GeV to 100 TeV with the DAMPE satellite

2019 ◽  
Vol 5 (9) ◽  
pp. eaax3793 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
Q. An ◽  
R. Asfandiyarov ◽  
P. Azzarello ◽  
P. Bernardini ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cosmic Rays ◽  
Cosmic Radiation ◽  
Precise Measurement ◽  
Milky Way ◽  
Spectral Feature ◽  
Dark Matter Particle ◽  
Cosmic Ray ◽  
Galactic Cosmic Rays ◽  
Proton Spectrum ◽  
First Time

The precise measurement of the spectrum of protons, the most abundant component of the cosmic radiation, is necessary to understand the source and acceleration of cosmic rays in the Milky Way. This work reports the measurement of the cosmic ray proton fluxes with kinetic energies from 40 GeV to 100 TeV, with 2 1/2 years of data recorded by the DArk Matter Particle Explorer (DAMPE). This is the first time that an experiment directly measures the cosmic ray protons up to ~100 TeV with high statistics. The measured spectrum confirms the spectral hardening at ~300 GeV found by previous experiments and reveals a softening at ~13.6 TeV, with the spectral index changing from ~2.60 to ~2.85. Our result suggests the existence of a new spectral feature of cosmic rays at energies lower than the so-called knee and sheds new light on the origin of Galactic cosmic rays.

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 Radio detection of cosmic rays with the Auger Engineering Radio Array

2019 ◽  
Vol 210 ◽  
pp. 05011 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tim Huege ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Cosmic Rays ◽  
Energy Range ◽  
Cosmic Ray ◽  
Energy Scale ◽  
Pierre Auger Observatory ◽  
Mass Composition ◽  
Frequency Range ◽  
Radio Detection ◽  
Composition Measurements

The Auger Engineering Radio Array (AERA) complements the Pierre Auger Observatory with 150 radio-antenna stations measuring in the frequency range from 30 to 80 MHz. With an instrumented area of 17 km2, the array constitutes the largest cosmic-ray radio detector built to date, allowing us to do multi-hybrid measurements of cosmic rays in the energy range of 1017 eV up to several 1018 eV. We give an overview of AERA results and discuss the significance of radio detection for the validation of the energy scale of cosmicray detectors as well as for mass-composition measurements.

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 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 Measurements of Horizontal Air Showers with the Auger Engineering Radio Array

2019 ◽  
Vol 216 ◽  
pp. 02001 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marvin Gottowik
Keyword(s):  
Cosmic Rays ◽  
Antenna Array ◽  
Radio Signal ◽  
Cosmic Ray ◽  
Pierre Auger Observatory ◽  
Large Area ◽  
Air Showers ◽  
Radio Detection ◽  
Surface Detector ◽  
Electromagnetic Component

The Pierre Auger Observatory is the largest observatory for the detection of cosmic rays. With the Auger Engineering Radio Array (AERA) we measure the emitted radio signal of extensive air showers and reconstruct properties of the primary cosmic rays. For horizontal air showers (zenith angles larger than 60°) the signal is distributed over a large area of more than several km2. Therefore, detection of air showers using a sparse radio antenna array, compatible with the 1500 m distance between the 1600 surface detector stations, is possible. The radio technique is sensitive to the electromagnetic component of air showers. Combining radio detection with particle information from the surface detector of the Observatory, which at large zenith angles mostly detects muons, allows to study the cosmic ray composition for horizontal air showers.

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 On the correlation of the highest energy cosmic rays with AGNs

2009 ◽  
Vol 5 (H15) ◽  
pp. 251-253
Author(s):  
Vitor de Souza ◽  
Peter L. s Biermman
Keyword(s):  
Energy Spectrum ◽  
Cosmic Rays ◽  
Magnetic Fields ◽  
Present Status ◽  
Cosmic Ray ◽  
Radio Galaxies ◽  
Pierre Auger Observatory ◽  
Heavy Nuclei ◽  
Measured Energy

AbstractIn this paper we briefly discuss the present status of the cosmic ray astrophysics under the light of the new data from the Pierre Auger Observatory. The measured energy spectrum is used to test the scenario of production in nearby radio galaxies. Within this framework the AGN correlation would require that most of the cosmic rays are heavy nuclei and are widely scattered by intergalactic magnetic fields.

scholarly journals The Pierre Auger Observatory: Review of Latest Results and Perspectives

Universe ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 4 (11) ◽  
pp. 128 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dariusz Góra ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Energy Spectrum ◽  
Cosmic Rays ◽  
Detection System ◽  
Cosmic Ray ◽  
High Energy ◽  
Pierre Auger Observatory ◽  
Mass Composition ◽  
Ultra High Energy ◽  
Energy Limitation ◽  
Arrival Directions

The Pierre Auger Observatory is the world’s largest operating detection system for the observation of ultra high energy cosmic rays (UHECRs), with energies above 10 17 eV. The detector allows detailed measurements of the energy spectrum, mass composition and arrival directions of primary cosmic rays in the energy range above 10 17 eV. The data collected at the Auger Observatory over the last decade show the suppression of the cosmic ray flux at energies above 4 × 10 19 eV. However, it is still unclear if this suppression is caused by the energy limitation of their sources or by the Greisen–Zatsepin–Kuzmin (GZK) cut-off. In such a case, UHECRs would interact with the microwave background (CMB), so that particles traveling long intergalactic distances could not have energies greater than 5 × 10 19 eV. The other puzzle is the origin of UHECRs. Some clues can be drawn from studying the distribution of their arrival directions. The recently observed dipole anisotropy has an orientation that indicates an extragalactic origin of UHECRs. The Auger surface detector array is also sensitive to showers due to ultra high energy neutrinos of all flavors and photons, and recent neutrino and photon limits provided by the Auger Observatory can constrain models of the cosmogenic neutrino production and exotic scenarios of the UHECRs origin, such as the decays of super heavy, non-standard-model particles. In this paper, the recent results on measurements of the energy spectrum, mass composition and arrival directions of cosmic rays, as well as future prospects are presented.

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