Study of Highest Energy Cosmic Rays

该提案要求支持芝加哥大学的一个小组参与建设皮埃尔·俄歇天文台。 皮埃尔·俄歇天文台建成后，将由两个宇宙射线探测器组成，一个目前正在阿根廷马拉格建造，另一个最终将在犹他州建造。 每个观测站将由1600个粒子探测器组成，这些探测器基于探测分布在3000平方公里范围内的切伦科夫光，并与大气荧光探测器互补。 该装置经过优化，可以最大效率地探测由能量大于1019电子伏特的初级宇宙射线引发的簇射。 美国对南部5000万美元建设项目的贡献是750万美元，分别来自NSF（PHY-9979239）和DOE，另外200万美元来自费米实验室的项目支持。 目前，由40个表面粒子探测器和两个荧光探测器组成的工程阵列即将完成。 为了验证整个设计，包括单个探测器、太阳能、无线通信和GPS定时，这是必要的。芝加哥小组参与了该项目的许多方面。 PI是整个项目的发言人，也是美国建筑奖（9979239）及其DOE对应项目的PI。 他一直负责该项目的科学指导。 肯·吉布斯指导了工程阵列的调查，正在制定整个阵列的调查和安装计划，以及天气监测站的安装。 布莱恩·菲克开发了天气监测器，并负责开发混合软件，该软件结合了来自地面和荧光探测器的数据。 Paul Sommers是荧光探测器的任务负责人。

This proposal requests support for a University of Chicago group for its participation in the construction of the Pierre Auger Observatory. The Pierre Auger Observatory, when completed, is intended to consist of two cosmic ray detectors, one presently under construction in Malargue Argentina, and the other eventually to be in Utah. Each observatory will consist of an array of 1600 particle detectors based on detecting Cherenkov light spread over 3000 square kilometers complements with atmospheric fluorescence detectors. The arrangement is optimized to detect with maximum efficiency showers initiated by primary cosmic rays with energy greater than 1019 electron volts.The southern observatory is being built by a consortium of eighteen nations. The US contribution to the southern $50 million construction project is $7.5 million coming equally from the NSF (PHY-9979239) and the DOE, with an additional $2 million in project support from Fermilab. At the present time an engineering array of 40 surface particle detectors and two fluorescence detectors is nearing completion. This is necessary in order to verify the entire design including the individual detectors, solar power, wireless communications, and GPS timing.The Chicago group has participated in many aspects of the project. The PI is the spokesman for the entire project, and is the PI for the US construction award (9979239) and its DOE counterpart. He has been responsible for the scientific direction of the project. Ken Gibbs has directed the survey for the engineering array, is developing plans for the survey and installation of the full array, and installation of the weather monitoring stations. Brian Fick has developed the weather monitors and is task leader for development of the hybrid software, which combines data from the surface and fluorescence detectors. Paul Sommers is the task leader for the fluorescence detectors.