Edgar Wilson with Corbin Covault

Timing Measurement and Angular Reconstruction for the Pierre Auger Observatory /A Measurement of the Timing Offset for the Pierre Auger Observatory

One of the great current mysteries of our universe is the origin of ultra-high energy cosmic rays. One experiment that sets out to study this mystery is the Pierre Auger Observatory based in Argentina . The experiment detects cosmic showers with energies greater than 10 19 eV using a grid of 1600 water Cherenkov surface detectors spanning over 3000 square kilometers along with four atmospheric fluorescence detectors. The Auger experiment aims to track the shower backward in time through angular reconstruction in hopes of discovering an origin. Since the ultra-high energy particles of the shower travel at very nearly the speed of light, timing measurements are critical in this reconstruction and are sensitive to nanosecond offsets. This project will focus on the timing issues involved in the Auger experiment. Specifically, we will set out to accurately calibrate the timing offset between the surface detector array and each fluorescence detector. An accurate determination of the timing offset is critical for minimizing systematics in arrival direction reconstruction using events that are detected simultaneously by both surface and fluorescence detectors. To make the measurement, we will be using a pair of custom-built GPS timing instruments.  The instruments will be constructed and calibrated in the lab and then will be transported to Malargue , Argentina to make measurements at the site.