Latest results from the Pierre Auger Observatory

Isabelle Lhenry-Yvon

doi:10.1051/epjconf/201612103003

Abstract

The Pierre Auger Observatory has been designed to investigate the origin and nature of Ultra High Energy Cosmic Rays (UHECR) with energies from 10 17 to 10 20 eV. In this paper we will review some of the most recent results obtained from data of the Pierre Auger Observatory, namely the spectrum of cosmic rays, the anisotropies in arrival directions and the studies related to mass composition and to the number of muons measured at the ground. We will also discuss the implication of these results for assembling a consistent description of the composition, origin and propagation of cosmic rays.

Highlights

IntroductionEven though cosmic rays have been discovered more than 100 years ago, their study remains of great interest, especially at the highest energies where their existence is still a puzzle for astrophysicists
The origin of the Ultra High Energy Cosmic Rays (UHECR) is still a challenge today
In this paper we will review some of the most recent results obtained from data of the Pierre Auger Observatory, namely the spectrum of cosmic rays, the anisotropies in arrival directions and the studies related to mass composition and to the number of muons measured at the ground

Summary

Introduction

Even though cosmic rays have been discovered more than 100 years ago, their study remains of great interest, especially at the highest energies where their existence is still a puzzle for astrophysicists At these energies, they can only be observed indirectly through air showers initiated in the Earth’s atmosphere. The Pierre Auger Observatory [1], conceived to characterize the properties of the UHECRs, is a hybrid instrument for air shower detection. It combines an array of particle detectors, the Surface Detector array (SD) [2], to sample the air shower front as it reaches the ground, and Fluorescence Detector (FD) telescopes to collect the ultraviolet light emitted by nitrogen as showers develop in the atmosphere [3].

Spectrum

Composition studies

Anisotropies in arrival directions

Findings

Conclusion