Study of the Highest Energy Cosmic Rays at the Pierre Auger Observatory

该奖项是根据2009年美国复苏和再投资法案（公法111-5）资助的。它将支持CSM组在皮埃尔俄歇天文台（PAO）宇宙线实验上的工作。PAO的高能累积暴露量超过了以前所有宇宙射线实验的总和。对能谱、各向异性和粒子组成的首次测量表明，该天文台对高能宇宙和粒子物理学有着前所未有的看法，其能量远远超过瑞士日内瓦的大型强子对撞机。该天文台结合了1600个表面探测器（SD）的收集能力，四眼大气荧光探测器（FD）的量热能量测量，以及阵列中心附近的两个激光“测试光束”设施的精度。随着这一基线配置在2008年底完成，观测站将利用其全套仪器收集数据。CSM小组负责生成大气传输常数的关键小时数据库，并监督这些激光设施的操作和数据处理。各向异性的灵敏度和观测强烈地激发了对精确能量标准的需求。在过去的几年里，CSM小组一直在科罗拉多东南部从事外展活动。在CSM建造的宇宙射线教育实验可用于公共活动和课堂使用。最近，在科罗拉多东南部的两个城镇安装了两个与南部俄歇天文台的探测器相同的演示表面探测器。这一装置是不断努力加强这一领域科学教育的一部分。CSM本科生自然参与研究，因为他们需要完成一个高级设计项目作为他们的课程的一部分。

This award is funded under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Public Law 111-5).It will support the CSM group to work on the Pierre Auger Observatory (PAO) Cosmic Ray experiment. The high-energy cumulative exposure of the PAO has surpassed the summed exposures of all previous cosmic ray experiments. First measurements of the energy spectra, anisotropy and particle composition indicate that the observatory has an unprecedented view of the high-energy universe and particle physics at energies well beyond that of the Large Hadron Collider in Geneva, Switzerland. The observatory combines the collecting power of 1600 surface detectors (SD), the calorimetric energy measurement of a four-eye atmospheric fluorescence detector (FD), and the precision of two laser "test-beam" facilities near the array center. With this baseline configuration completed in late 2008, the observatory will collect data using its full complement of instrumentation. The CSM group has the responsibility for generating the critical hourly data base of atmospheric transmission constants, and overseeing the operation and data processing of these laser facilities. The sensitivity and the observation of anisotropy strongly motivate the need for a precise energy standard. For the past few years, the CSM group has been engaged in outreach activities in southeastern Colorado. Cosmic-ray educational experiments built at CSM were made available for public events and use in classrooms. Recently, two demonstration surface detectors, identical to the detectors at the southern Auger Observatory, were installed in two towns in southeastern Colorado. This installation was part of a continuing effort to enhance science education in this area. CSM undergraduates are naturally involved in the research, as they are required to complete a senior design project as part of their curriculum.