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小组进行皮埃尔·奥格天文台（PAO）宇宙射线实验。PAO的高能累积暴露已经超过了以前所有宇宙射线实验的暴露总和。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有着前所未有的认识，其能量远远超过了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，以及阵列中心附近两个激光“测试束”设施的精度。随着这个基线配置在2008年底完成，天文台将使用其全套仪器收集数据。CSM小组负责生成关键的每小时大气传输常数数据库，并监督这些激光设备的运行和数据处理。灵敏度和各向异性的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州东南部从事外展活动。在CSM建立的宇宙射线教育实验可供公共活动和教室使用。最近，在科罗拉多州东南部的两个城镇安装了两个示范地面探测器，与南部俄格天文台的探测器相同。这一装置是加强这一领域科学教育的持续努力的一部分。CSM的本科生自然会参与研究，因为他们需要完成一个高级设计项目作为他们课程的一部分。

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.