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Mini-Symposium: Centre for Cosmological Physics 4 October 2002

Mini-Symposium: Centre for Cosmological Physics 4 October 2002. Status of the Pierre Auger Observatory and Future Prospects Alan Watson University of Leeds and CfCP. Status of Infra Structure. March 1999: Ground Breaking Ceremony Only a plaque

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Mini-Symposium: Centre for Cosmological Physics 4 October 2002

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  1. Mini-Symposium: Centre for Cosmological Physics4 October 2002 Status of the Pierre Auger Observatory and Future Prospects Alan Watson University of Leeds and CfCP

  2. Status of Infra Structure March 1999: Ground Breaking Ceremony Only a plaque November 2000: Assembly Building May 2001: Fluorescence Building at Los Leones November 2001: Office Building May 2002: Fluorescence Building at Coihueco

  3. Assembly Building, Malargue

  4. Office Building, Malargue

  5. Status of Tanks • 32 Tanks now operating • This will be the target status until • pre-production tanks and unified board • electronics are available late this year • First coincidences: July 2001 • Stable operation of 32 tanks since May 2002 • Water stability proven at an important level!

  6. Carmen and Miranda

  7. Composition of shower at 900 m @ 1019 eV

  8. Atank was opened at the ‘end of project’ party on 31 July 1987. The water shown had been in the tank for 25 years but was quite drinkable!

  9. # 207116: zenith angle = 13°

  10. FADC traces for #207116

  11. An 11-fold Event 184599q = 54°r(1000m) = 7 VEM/m2

  12. 4 Stations of the 11-fold event

  13. Status of Communications Signals are sent from autonomous tanks by a purpose-designed radio link (951 MHz) via antenna mounted on 40 m masts (three of 5 have now been constructed) to the central Office Building

  14. Data are gathered from the water tanks using a purpose built Wireless LAN, based on cellular telephone technology. Signals are sent to the antennae on the tower and then by conventional microwave links to the computer in Malargue. It is decided whether a group of tanks has interesting data. If so, more detailed information is requested and then transmitted.

  15. Status of Fluorescence Detectors • Two cameras and two mirrors in operation from • mid-2001 • Prototypes removed from Los Leones • Installation of 6 final cameras in LL under way • Coihueco detector building completed and • installation of mirrors etc started

  16. Fluorescence detector at Los Leones

  17. Status of Hybrid Approach • ~80 events recorded between November 2001 • and March 2002 • Work has started on cross-calibration • Only a few events so far where an independent • estimate of energy can be made with SD -but • things look pretty good. • This is clearly a major data product from the • Observatory - DON’T RUSH US FOR ANSWER!

  18. Potential of the Observatory • Directions   • Energy • Mass  - photons - neutrinos - protons or iron

  19. Approaches to identifying photons • Other methods • fewer muons • geomagnetic • effects • pulse shape • inclined • showers

  20. Photon potential of inclined showers

  21. Maximo Ave: 80°, proton at 1019 eV Details in Ave, Vazquez and Zas, Astroparticle Physics

  22. Ave et al. PRL 85 2244 2000

  23. Potential of the Observatory • Directions   • Energy • Mass  - photons - neutrinos  - protons or iron? HARDER

  24. “We remain with the dilemma: protons versus heavy nuclei. A clear cut decision cannot be reached yet. I believe that up to the highest energies the protons are the most abundant in the primary cosmic rays. However, I must confess that a leak proof test of the protonic nature of the primaries at the highest energies does not exist. This is a very important problem. Experimentally it is quite a difficult problem.” G Cocconi: Fifth International Cosmic Ray Conference, Guanajuato, Mexico, 1955

  25. Timescale to Completion • April 2003: Pre-production array • EA plus ~100 tanks with Mark II electronics • Area ~130 km2 • - the largest ever operated, and in Southern • Hemisphere: significant science potential • 2004: Completion of 4 FD systems • 2005: Completion of SD

  26. Problems that remain Lack of money to complete surface detectors and final FD building Sufficient for ~ half of tanks + 3 FD MUST have funding for 3000 km2 in place before proceeding with Auger-N MUST have a northern site to complete Observatory

  27. Future Additional Activities • Fluorescence Yield Measurement • EUSO cross-calibration • Add scintillators? • New techniques e.g. radio, • a natural place to test new ideas • Raising more money

  28. Summary Advertisement UK Mobile Phones: The future’s BRIGHT, the future’sOrange UHECR prospects: The future’s BRIGHT, the future’sAuger!

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