Future Plans at the Pierre Auger Observatory

Lawrence WienckeColorado School of MinesIS@AO, Apr. 18 2011, Cambridge

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2Wiencke

Logarithmic Scale Linear ScaleLinsleys x105 Linsleys

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The Pierre Auger Observatoryof Ultra-High Energy Cosmic Rays

Southern site: Argentina3000 Square km

Northern site: Colorado21000 square km (RIP 2010)

ArgentinaAustraliaBrasilBolivia*Czech Rep.France Germany ItalyMexico

NetherlandsPolandPortugalSlovenia

Spain UKUSAVietnam*

*Assoc. Countries

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Long Term

• Go really big– Pierre Auger Aperture is 3000 km2 str– Next detector should be 30,000 km2 str+

• Some (no so) minor details – When? Where? What?

• Include interdisciplinary science from the start

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Pierre Auger Fluorescence Detectors

• World’s best optical cosmic ray air shower detectors– Measure Cosmic Air Showers very well– Measure Lasers well (<1 hz rate) – Throw away >99.9 % of the night sky

• Next generation FD – Cosmic Ray Detector and Atmospheric instrument

• Very loose trigger and fast readout– Discovery & measurement potential!

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Future – next 5 years

• Pierre Auger Observatory –– 1991 First meetings – 2003 Engineering Array– 2005 Construction 1000/1600 tanks– 2008 Construction complete– Present continue Cosmic Ray data taking

• perhaps for 10-15 years

• Upgrades in progress and planned– Extend energy range down & measure muons– New technologies & methods

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HEAT High Elevation Airshower TelescopeExtend Energy Range (down) to 1017 eV

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R&D Program for Radio Detection of Cosmic Rays

Atmospheric + FD R&D in Colorado

Raman LIDARSolid State LaserControl Systems

XLF Design Features

Parts from CLFSteering, Optics, Solar PowerPropane safety system

Funding

StudentsStaffFaculty

New ContainerCalibration System, + + +

SuperTest Beam

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Oktocopter with GPS

Some ideas from this work shop

• Gravity Waves– In our radiosonde data?– Auger Participation in SAAGRIA– Possible connection to seismic measurements?

• Clouds –– Edge charging, effects/correlation with CR

• Aerosols –– sampling (z) – ~100 nm size

• Revive Radiosonde Measurements, supplement with oktocopter?– Aerosols, ionization, gravity waves …– KIT group is interested

• Lightening– Track effects with Pierre Auger Surface Detector– Coincidence with air showers

• Weather effects – Surface Detector singles rates• Extended seismi array?

• Are there connection or correlations between atmospheric phenomena and Ultra High Energy Cosmic Rays? (E>1018 eV)

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Southern Hemisphere Center for Atmospheric Research at the Pierre Auger Observatory?