1. Search for a diffuse flux of photons with energies above tens of PeV at the Pierre Auger ObservatoryA. Abdul Halim, Andrej Filipčič, Jon Paul Lundquist, Shima Ujjani Shivashankara, Samo Stanič, Serguei Vorobiov, Danilo Zavrtanik, Marko Zavrtanik, 2025, original scientific article Abstract: Diffuse photons of energy above 0.1 PeV, produced through the interactions between cosmic rays and either interstellar matter or background radiation fields, are powerful tracers of the distribution of cosmic rays in the Galaxy. Furthermore, the measurement of a diffuse photon flux would be an important probe to test models of super-heavy dark matter decaying into gamma-rays. In this work, we search for a diffuse photon flux in the energy range between 50 PeV and 200 PeV using data from the Pierre Auger Observatory. For the first time, we combine the air-shower measurements from a 2 sq. km surface array consisting of 19 water-Cherenkov surface detectors, spaced at 433 m, with the muon measurements from an array of buried scintillators placed in the same area. Using 15 months of data, collected while the array was still under construction, we derive upper limits to the integral photon flux ranging from 13.3 to 13.8 per sq. km, per steradian, and per year above tens of PeV. We extend the Pierre Auger Observatory photon search program towards lower energies, covering more than three decades of cosmic-ray energy. This work lays the foundation for future diffuse photon searches: with the data from the next 10 years of operation of the Observatory, this limit is expected to improve by a factor of ∼20.
Keywords: ultra-high-energy (UHE) cosmic rays, UHE photons, Pierre Auger Observatory, diffuse photon flux, extensive air showers, water-Cherenkov surface detectors, underground muon detectors
Published in RUNG: 26.05.2025; Views: 335; Downloads: 4
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2. The Radio Detector of the Pierre Auger ObservatoryJ. R. Hörandel, Andrej Filipčič, Jon Paul Lundquist, Shima Ujjani Shivashankara, Samo Stanič, Serguei Vorobiov, Danilo Zavrtanik, Marko Zavrtanik, 2025, published scientific conference contribution Abstract: To measure the properties of the highest-energy particles in the Universe with unprecedented precision, we have upgraded the Pierre Auger Observatory. A crucial component of this upgrade is the Radio Detector. Radio antennas have been added to all 1660 positions of the surface detector array, covering an area of 3000 sq. km. The antennas detect radio emission, emitted by extensive air showers in the frequency band from 30 to 80 MHz in two polarization directions - one parallel and one perpendicular to the Earth magnetic field. For inclined air showers with zenith angles above 60 degrees, the radio antennas provide a clean measurement of the electromagnetic shower component, while the water-Čerenkov detectors measure the muonic component. Large-scale deployment in the Argentinian Pampa Amarilla started around June 2023 and has been completed in 2024. The deployment is accompanied by extensive calibration efforts both, in the laboratory and in the field. The signal chain is characterized in the laboratory. Galactic radio emission is used as a reference signal and the antenna patterns are verified through in-situ calibrations with a reference antenna. Commissioning of the system is in full progress as well as the analysis of first measured air showers. We present first air showers measured with the largest radio detector for cosmic rays in the world.
Keywords: ultra-high-energy cosmic rays, Pierre Auger Observatory, extensive air showers, surface detectors, Water-Cherenkov detectors, Surface Scintillator detectors
Published in RUNG: 16.05.2025; Views: 420; Downloads: 7
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3. Machine learning-based analyses using surface detector data of the Pierre Auger ObservatorySteffen Hahn, Andrej Filipčič, Jon Paul Lundquist, Shima Ujjani Shivashankara, Samo Stanič, Serguei Vorobiov, Danilo Zavrtanik, Marko Zavrtanik, 2025, published scientific conference contribution Abstract: The Pierre Auger Observatory is the largest detector for the study of extensive air showers induced
by ultra-high-energy cosmic rays (UHECRs). Its hybrid detector design allows the simultaneous
observation of different parts of the shower evolution using various detection techniques. To
accurately understand the physics behind the origin of UHECRs, it is essential to determine their
mass composition. However, since UHECRs cannot be measured directly, estimating their masses
is highly non-trivial. The most common approach is to analyze mass-sensitive observables, such as
the number of secondary muons and the atmospheric depth of the shower maximum.
An intriguing part of the shower to estimate these observables is its footprint. The shower footprint is detected by ground-based detectors, such as the Water-Cherenkov detectors (WCDs) of the Surface Detector (SD) of the Observatory, which have an uptime of nearly 100%, resulting in a high number of observed events. However, the spatio-temporal information stored in the shower footprints is highly complex, making it very challenging to analyze the footprints using analytical and phenomenological methods. Therefore, the Pierre Auger Collaboration utilizes machine learning-based algorithms to complement classical methods in order to exploit the measured data with unprecedented precision. In this contribution, we highlight these machine learning-based analyses used to determine high-level shower observables that help to infer the mass of the primary particle, with a particular focus on analyses using the shower footprint detected by the WCDs and the Surface Scintillator Detectors (SSD) of the SD. We show that these novel methods show promising results on simulations and offer improved reconstruction performance when applied to measured data.
Keywords: ultra-high-energy cosmic rays (UHECRs), extensive air showers, Pierre Auger Observatory, surface detector, Water-Cherenkov detectors (WCDs), Surface Scintillator Detectors (SSDs), UHECR mass composition, air-shower footprint, machine learning
Published in RUNG: 16.05.2025; Views: 378; Downloads: 4
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4. Constraints on upward-going air showers using the Pierre Auger Observatory dataEmanuele De Vito, Andrej Filipčič, Jon Paul Lundquist, Shima Ujjani Shivashankara, Samo Stanič, Serguei Vorobiov, Danilo Zavrtanik, Marko Zavrtanik, 2023, published scientific conference contribution Abstract: The fluorescence detector (FD) of the Pierre Auger Observatory is sensitive to upward-going air showers with energies above 1017 eV. Given its operation time and wide field of view, the FD has the potential to support or constrain the “anomalous” observations by the ANITA detector, interpreted as upward-going air showers that would be indicative of Beyond Standard Model (BSM) physics. To this end, a search for upward-going air showers with the FD has been performed applying selection criteria that were optimized using 10% of FD data. Dedicated background simulations (downward-going events) have been performed to estimate our capability to distinguish candidates from false positives. Also dedicated signal simulations (upward-going events) have been used to estimate our sensitivity to such showers with a focus on the energy region close to the ANITA observations.
Improved and updated results of the Pierre Auger Observatory exposure to upward-going showers will be presented after the unblinding of 14 years of FD data. Extensive simulations allow the FD exposure to be obtained at lower energies which are particularly relevant for the comparison with the ANITA results. A refinement of the method for signal discrimination and background rejection has also been applied. The implications are discussed under the assumption that the ANITA events were due to upward-going events.
Keywords: Pierre Auger Observatory, ultra-high energy cosmic rays, air showers, beyond standard model, fluorescence detectors, ANITA
Published in RUNG: 23.01.2024; Views: 2083; Downloads: 42
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5. Study of downward Terrestrial Gamma-ray Flashes with the surface detector of the Pierre Auger ObservatoryRoberta Colalillo, Andrej Filipčič, Jon Paul Lundquist, Shima Ujjani Shivashankara, Samo Stanič, Serguei Vorobiov, Danilo Zavrtanik, Marko Zavrtanik, 2023, published scientific conference contribution Abstract: The surface detector (SD) of the Pierre Auger Observatory, consisting of 1660 water-Cherenkov detectors (WCDs), covers 3000 km2 in the Argentinian pampa. Thanks to the high efficiency of WCDs in detecting gammarays, it represents a unique instrument for studying downward Terrestrial Gamma-ray Flashes (TGFs) over a large area. Peculiar events, likely related to downward TGFs, were detected at the Auger Observatory. Their experimental signature and time evolution are very
different from those of a shower produced by an ultrahigh-energy cosmic ray. They happen in coincidence with low thunderclouds and lightning, and their large deposited energy at the ground is compatible with that of a standard downward TGF with the source a few kilometers above the ground. A new trigger algorithm to increase the TGF-like event statistics was installed in the whole array. The study of the performance of the new trigger system during the lightning season is ongoing and will provide a handle to develop improved algorithms to implement in the Auger upgraded electronic boards. The available data sample, even if small, can give important clues about the TGF production models, in particular, the shape of WCD signals. Moreover, the SD allows us to observe more than one point in the TGF beam, providing information on the emission angle.
Keywords: Pierre Auger Observatory, ultra-high energy cosmic rays, surface detectors, extensive air shower, terrestrial gamma-ray flashes
Published in RUNG: 23.01.2024; Views: 2437; Downloads: 9
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6. The second knee in the cosmic ray spectrum observed with the surface detector of the Pierre Auger ObservatoryGabriel Brichetto Orquera, Andrej Filipčič, Jon Paul Lundquist, Shima Ujjani Shivashankara, Samo Stanič, Serguei Vorobiov, Danilo Zavrtanik, Marko Zavrtanik, 2023, published scientific conference contribution Abstract: The determination of the energy spectrum features with low systematic uncertainty is crucial for interpreting the nature of cosmic rays. In this study, we conducted a measurement of the energy spectrum at the Pierre Auger Observatory using a surface detector with a calorimetric
energy scale indirectly set by a fluorescence detector. The surface detector consists of an array of water-Cherenkov detectors that extends over 3000 km^2 with 1500m spacing. Additionally,
two nested arrays of the same kind with 750m and 433m spacing were utilized to lower the energy threshold of the measurements. This contribution presents, for the first time, the spectrum measured with the 433m array, which reduces the energy threshold down to 63 PeV, nearly half the energy at which we previously published a steepening using the 750m array. Our measurements include a characterization of the spectral features of the flux steepening around 230 PeV, known
as the second-knee. The study benefits from a nearly 100% duty cycle and geometrical exposure. Notably, this is the first simultaneous measurement of the second knee energy and spectral indexes before and after the break, using a surface detector with an energy scale predominantly independent of air shower simulations and assumptions regarding hadronic interaction models.
Keywords: ultra-high energy cosmic rays, Pierre Auger Observatory, hadronic interaction model, water-Cherenkov detectors
Published in RUNG: 23.01.2024; Views: 2298; Downloads: 5
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7. The performances of the upgraded surface detector stations of AugerPrimeFabio Convenga, Andrej Filipčič, Jon Paul Lundquist, Shima Ujjani Shivashankara, Samo Stanič, Serguei Vorobiov, Danilo Zavrtanik, Marko Zavrtanik, 2023, published scientific conference contribution Abstract: The surface detector of the Pierre Auger Observatory is an array of 1,600 stations using a water Cherenkov detector (WCD) for particle detection. The array is undergoing a major upgrade known as AugerPrime that involves adding scintillator surface detectors (SSDs) and radio antennas to the existing WCDs. Each WCD is also equipped with a smaller photomultiplier tube added to the original ones. As part of the upgrade, underground muon detectors are being installed in an area with a higher density of surface detector stations. AugerPrime required the development of new electronics to process the signals from all the new detectors and handle a higher sampling
rate, a more precise GPS receiver, an extended dynamic range, higher processing capacity, and improved monitoring systems and memory. The deployment of the SSDs on top of each surface detector station is currently completed together with the deployment of the new electronics. This contribution will present the first data from the upgraded stations, emphasizing the performances of the SSDs and the new electronics.
Keywords: ultra-high energy cosmic rays, Pierre Auger Observatory, extensive air showers, scintillation surface detectors
Published in RUNG: 23.01.2024; Views: 2704; Downloads: 6
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8. Measurements of cloud base height and coverage using elastic multiangle lidar scans at the Pierre Auger ObservatoryJuan Pallotta, Andrej Filipčič, Jon Paul Lundquist, Shima Ujjani Shivashankara, Samo Stanič, Serguei Vorobiov, Danilo Zavrtanik, Marko Zavrtanik, 2023, published scientific conference contribution Abstract: Cloud features significantly affect the reconstruction of extensive air showers, and their characterization plays an important role in atmospheric monitoring. A multi-directional characterization of the cloud pattern is provided by a combination of several instruments of the atmospheric monitoring network at the Pierre Auger Observatory (Mendoza Province, Argentina). In this work, we present the results of an analysis of the cloud measurements using data taken from 2007 to 2022 by the elastic lidars positioned in the proximity of the fluorescence detector (FD) sites. These systems provide hourly measurements of cloud coverage and base height above FD. The ansatz
of horizontal homogeneity of cloud structures is tested by comparing the hourly measurements of cloud base height and coverage done simultaneously at different lidar locations. These results allow a detailed description of cloud patterns observed above the array throughout the whole period. The variation of cloud parameters is shown and quantitative conclusions about cloud homogeneity across the array of the Pierre Auger Observatory are given.
Keywords: ultra-high energy cosmic rays, Pierre Auger Observatory, surface detectors, fluorescence detectors
Published in RUNG: 23.01.2024; Views: 2174; Downloads: 51
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9. Deep-learning-based cosmic-ray mass reconstruction using the water-Cherenkov and scintillation detectors of AugerPrimeNiklas Langner, Andrej Filipčič, Jon Paul Lundquist, Shima Ujjani Shivashankara, Samo Stanič, Serguei Vorobiov, Danilo Zavrtanik, Marko Zavrtanik, 2023, published scientific conference contribution Abstract: At the highest energies, cosmic rays can be detected only indirectly by the extensive air showers they create upon interaction with the Earth’s atmosphere. While high-statistics measurements of the energy and arrival directions of cosmic rays can be performed with large surface detector arrays like the Pierre Auger Observatory, the determination of the cosmic-ray mass on an event-by-event basis is challenging. Meaningful physical observables in this regard include the depth of maximum of air-shower profiles, which is related to the mean free path of the cosmic ray in the atmosphere and the shower development, as well as the number of muons that rises with the
number of nucleons in a cosmic-ray particle.
In this contribution, we present an approach to determine both of these observables from combined measurements of water-Cherenkov detectors and scintillation detectors, which are part of the AugerPrime upgrade of the Observatory. To characterize the time-dependent signals of the two detectors both separately as well as in correlation to each other, we apply deep learning techniques. Transformer networks employing the attention mechanism are especially well-suited for this task. We present the utilized network concepts and apply them to simulations to determine the precision of the event-by-event mass reconstruction that can be achieved by the combined measurements of the depth of shower maximum and the number of muons.
Keywords: Pierre Auger Observatory, ultra-high energy cosmic rays, muons, extensive air showers, surface detectors, AugerPrime, deep learning techiniques
Published in RUNG: 23.01.2024; Views: 2205; Downloads: 9
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10. Investigating multiple ELVES and halos above strong lightning with the fluorescence detectors of the Pierre Auger ObservatoryRoberto Mussa, Andrej Filipčič, Jon Paul Lundquist, Shima Ujjani Shivashankara, Samo Stanič, Serguei Vorobiov, Danilo Zavrtanik, Marko Zavrtanik, 2023, published scientific conference contribution Abstract: ELVES are being studied since 2013 with the twenty-four FD Telescopes of the Pierre Auger Observatory, in the province of Mendoza (Argentina), the world’s largest facility for the study of ultra-high energy cosmic rays. This study exploits a dedicated trigger and extended readout. Since December 2020, this trigger has been extended to the three High Elevation Auger Telescopes (HEAT), which observe the night sky at elevation angles between 30 and 60 degrees, allowing a study of ELVES from closer lightning. The high time resolution of the Auger telescopes allows us to upgrade reconstruction algorithms and to do detailed studies on multiple ELVES. The origin of multiple elves can be studied by analyzing the time difference and the amplitude ratio between flashes and comparing them with the properties of radio signals detected by the ENTLN lightning network since 2018. A fraction of multi-ELVES can also be interpreted as halos following ELVES. Halos are disc-shaped light transients emitted at 70-80 km altitudes, appearing at the center of the ELVES rings, due to the rearrangement of electric charges at the base of the ionosphere after a strong lightning event.
Keywords: ultra-high energy cosmic rays, Pierre Auger Observatory, surface detectors, fluorescence detectors
Published in RUNG: 23.01.2024; Views: 1999; Downloads: 6
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