Speaker
Description
Understanding the origin and acceleration mechanisms of Ultra-High-Energy Cosmic Rays requires precise knowledge of their mass composition at the highest energies. A crucial step toward this goal is the capability to determine the primary particle mass on an event-by-event basis. For this reason, the Pierre Auger Observatory has undergone a major upgrade known as AugerPrime, designed to extend its sensitivity to the mass composition of cosmic rays and to the hadronic interactions that govern air shower development.
AugerPrime introduces several new detector components integrated with the existing surface detector array. Each water-Cherenkov detector has been equipped with a Scintillator Surface Detector, which allows a better separation of the electromagnetic and muonic components of air showers. The detector electronics have been modernized and complemented by the addition of a small photomultiplier tube, increasing the dynamic range of the stations and allowing accurate measurements of large signals near the shower core. Radio antennas have also been deployed to detect the coherent radio emission produced by charged particles in air showers, providing complementary information on the electromagnetic component. In addition, the Underground Muon Detector enables the direct measurement of the muonic component of air showers.
In this contribution, we present the AugerPrime detector concept, its multi-hybrid system, first data and its role in advancing studies of the mass composition of Ultra-High-Energy Cosmic Rays.