1. Studies in the atmospheric monitoring at the Pierre Auger Observatory using the upgraded Central Laser FacilityCarlos Medina-Hernandez, Andrej Filipčič, Gašper Kukec Mezek, Ahmed Saleh, Samo Stanič, Marta Trini, Darko Veberič, Serguei Vorobiov, Lili Yang, Danilo Zavrtanik, Marko Zavrtanik, 2015, published scientific conference contribution Abstract: The Fluorescence Detector (FD) at the Pierre Auger Observatory
measures the intensity of the scattered light from laser tracks
generated by the Central Laser Facility (CLF) and the eXtreme
Laser Facility (XLF) to monitor and estimate the vertical
aerosol optical depth (τ(z,t)). This measurement is needed to
obtain unbiased and reliable FD measurements of the arrival
direction and energy of the primary cosmic ray, and the depth
of the maximum shower development. The CLF was upgraded
substantially in 2013 with the addition of a solid state laser,
new generation GPS, a robotic beam calibration system, better
thermal and dust isolation, and improved software. The upgrade
also included a back-scatter Raman LIDAR to measure τ(z,t).
The new features and applications of the upgraded instrument
are described. These include the laser energy calibration
and the atmospheric monitoring measurements. The first τ(z,t)
results and comparisons after the upgrade are presented using different methods. The first method compares the FD hourly
response to the scattered light from the CLF (or XLF) against
a reference hourly profile measured during a clear night where
zero aerosol contents are assumed. The second method simulates
FD responses with different atmospheric parameters and selects the parameters that provide the best fit to the actual FD
response. A third method uses the new Raman LIDAR receiver
in-situ to measure the back-scatter light from the CLF laser.
The results show a good data agreement for the first and second
methods using FD stations located at the same distance from the
facilities. Preliminary results of τ(z,t) using the Raman LIDAR
are presented as well. Keywords: Pierre Auger Observatory, extensive air showers, the Fluorescence Detector, atmospheric monitoring, vertical aerosol optical depth, the Central Laser Facility, the eXtreme Laser Facility Published in RUNG: 03.03.2016; Views: 5923; Downloads: 184 Full text (3,96 MB) |