Search the repository

A+ | A- | | SLO | ENG

Abstract: Operating since 2004, the Pierre Auger Observatory has led to major advances in our understanding of the ultra-high-energy cosmic rays. The latest findings have revealed new insights that led to the upgrade of the Observatory, with the primary goal of obtaining information on the primary mass of the most energetic cosmic rays on a shower-by-shower basis. In the framework of the upgrade, called AugerPrime, the 1660 water-Cherenkov detectors of the surface array are equipped with plastic scintillators and radio antennas, allowing us to enhance the composition sensitivity. To accommodate new detectors and to increase experimental capabilities, the electronics is also upgraded. This includes better timing with up-to-date GPS receivers, higher sampling frequency, increased dynamic range, and more powerful local processing of the data. In this paper, the design characteristics of the new electronics and the enhanced dynamic range will be described. The manufacturing and test processes will be outlined and the test results will be discussed. The calibration of the SD detector and various performance parameters obtained from the analysis of the first commissioning data will also be presented.
Keywords: ultra-high-energy cosmic rays, Pierre Auger Observatory, AugerPrime detector upgrade, surface detector array, surface detector electronics
Published in RUNG: 18.10.2023; Views: 335; Downloads: 4
Full text (2,07 MB)
This document has many files! More...

Abstract: With data on the depth of maximum Xmax collected during more than a decade of operation of the Pierre Auger Observatory, we report on the inferences on the mass composition of UHECRs in the energy range E = 10[sup]17.2 − 10[sup]19.6 eV and on the measurements of the proton-air cross section for energies up to 10[sup]18.5 eV. We also present the results on Xmax obtained using the information on the particle arrival times recorded by the SD stations allowing us to extend the Xmax measurements up to 10[sup]20 eV. The inferences on mass composition, in particular using the data of the SD, are subject to systematic uncertainties due to uncertainties in the description of hadronic interactions at ultra-high energies. We discuss this problem with respect to the properties of the muonic component of extensive air-showers as derived from the SD data.
Keywords: ultra-high-energy cosmic rays (UHECRs), extensive air showers (EAS), EAS muonic component, EAS electromagnetic component, Pierre Auger Observatory, UHECR mass composition, UHECR hadronic interactions
Published in RUNG: 11.10.2023; Views: 308; Downloads: 8
Full text (128,28 KB)
This document has many files! More...

Abstract: The Pierre Auger Observatory has been very successful in determining many aspects of the highest-energy cosmic rays including, among others, the flux suppression at energies above 4 × 10[sup]19 eV, stringent upper limits on photon and neutrino fluxes at ultra-high energies and an unexpected evolution of the mass composition with energy. We expect an extension of the frontiers of our knowledge on these aspects from a major upgrade of the Observatory. The upgrade, known as AugerPrime, will include an addition of a 4 sq. m Surface Scintillator Detector atop each water-Cherenkov station of the Surface array. The new detectors will provide us with an unprecedented opportunity to perform a complementary measurement of the shower particles and thus determine the primary mass composition with good accuracy on an event-by-event basis. AugerPrime will also include an upgrade of electronics, installation of the AMIGA Underground Muon Detector and a change of observation mode of the Fluorescence Detector, which will increase its current duty cycle by about 50%. Current status of the upgrade with the main focus on the Surface Scintillator Detectors will be presented, following a brief description of the physics motivation for the upgrade.
Keywords: ultra-high-energy cosmic rays (UHECRs), Pierre Auger Observatory, AugerPrime upgrade
Published in RUNG: 11.10.2023; Views: 290; Downloads: 5
Full text (2,05 MB)
This document has many files! More...

Abstract: The Telescope Array (TA) is the largest ultra-high energy cosmic ray (UHECR) observatory in the Northern Hemisphere. Together with the TA Low Energy Extension (TALE), TA×4, and TALE infill detector, the TA measures the properties of UHECR-induced extensive air showers (EAS) in the energy region from 10^15 eV to over 10^20 eV. Each of these uses a hybrid system with an array of scintillators to sample the footprint of the EAS at the Earth’s surface along with telescopes that measure the fluorescence and Cherenkov light from the EAS. The statistics at the highest energies are being enhanced with the TA×4 detector, half completed but still under construction, which will quadruple the surface detector area with telescopes. The TALE infill surface detectors were recently deployed to further lower the hybrid energy threshold of TALE. We present the status of the experiment and recent results on the energy spectrum, mass composition, and anisotropy, including new features in the energy spectrum at about 10^19.2 eV and in the UHECR arrival direction anisotropy.
Keywords: Telescope Array, TALE, low energy extension, TAx4, indirect detection, hybrid detection, ground array, surface detection, fluorescence detection, cerenkov light, ultra-high energy, cosmic rays, energy spectrum, composition, anisotropy
Published in RUNG: 10.10.2023; Views: 278; Downloads: 6
Full text (26,81 MB)
This document has many files! More...

Abstract: The Telescope Array (TA) experiment continues to observe Ultra High Energy Cosmic Rays (UHECRs) both with its original TA detectors as well as with the new TAx4 expansion detectors. These observations employ Fluorescence Detectors (FDs) to capture the air shower induced by the primary UHECRs. The FD observes fluorescence light emitted from atmospheric nitrogen molecules excited by air shower particles. Observation of the FD extends over tens of kilometers, and the fluorescence light is attenuated by scattering from atmospheric molecules and aerosols during the propagation process. Seasonal dependence was found when evaluating the attenuation of fluorescence by aerosols. We will report on the effects of this seasonal dependence on TA air shower analysis.
Keywords: Telescope Array, TAx4, indirect detection, fluorescence detection, ultra-high energy, cosmic rays, atmosphere, calibration, VAOD
Published in RUNG: 10.10.2023; Views: 281; Downloads: 6
Full text (1,16 MB)
This document has many files! More...