Astrophysics and Space Sciences Transactions

An Open Access Journal of the Arbeitsgemeinschaft Extraterrestrische Forschung e.V.

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Astrophys. Space Sci. Trans., 6, 27-30, 2010
www.astrophys-space-sci-trans.net/6/27/2010/
doi:10.5194/astra-6-27-2010
© Author(s) 2010. This work is distributed
under the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License.
 
03 Nov 2010
The Balloon-the-Shower programme of the Pierre Auger Observatory
B. Keilhauer for the Pierre Auger Collaboration
KIT - Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Germany
Observatorio Pierre Auger, Av. San Martin Norte 304, 5613 Malargüe, Argentina

Received: 06 Sep 2010 – Revised: 13 Oct 2010 – Accepted: 15 Oct 2010 – Published: 03 Nov 2010
Abstract. The southern part of the Pierre Auger Observatory in Argentina investigates cosmic rays with energies above about 5·1017 eV. High-energy events which have been recorded with both detector components, surface water Cherenkov tanks and fluorescence telescopes, are crucial for the energy calibration of the entire detector system. Using this method, the energy reconstruction of extensive air showers relies on a proper fluorescence light reconstruction which depends on the knowledge of atmospheric conditions like pressure, temperature and water vapour. These properties of the atmosphere vary with altitude and in time. Therefore, a dedicated monitoring programme has operated since March 2009 to measure an actual atmospheric profile with meteorological radio soundings shortly after the detection of a high-energy air shower with E0 > 2·1019 eV.

We will present the technical implementation of this programme as well as a reconstruction analysis using the data obtained. The reconstructed primary energy of air showers and the position of the shower maximum are compared with those results using either monthly models for the local atmospheric conditions or global meteorological models.

Citation: B. Keilhauer for the Pierre Auger Collaboration: The Balloon-the-Shower programme of the Pierre Auger Observatory, Astrophys. Space Sci. Trans., 6, 27-30, doi:10.5194/astra-6-27-2010, 2010.
 
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ECRS 2010
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