Calibration and Monitoring of the Pierre Auger Observatory

THE AUGER COLLABORATION (...M.I. MICHELETTI...) (THE LIST IS IN ALPHABETIC ORDER)

Lódz, Polonia

Conferencia; 31st International Cosmic Ray Conference (ICRC); 2009

   Se incluye el resumen de uno de los trabajos claves sobre monitoreo atmosférico (entre todos los trabajos sobre el tema presentados) Abstract. For the analysis of air showers measured using the air fluorescence technique, it is essential to understand the behaviour of the atmosphere. At the Pierre Auger Observatory, the atmospheric properties that affect the production of UV light in air showers and the transmission of the light to the fluorescence telescopes are monitored regularly. These properties include the temperature, pressure, and humidity as a function of altitude; the optical depth and scattering behaviour of aerosols; and the presence of clouds in the field of view of the telescopes. The atmospheric measurements made at the observatory describe a detector volume in excess of 30,000 cubic km. Since 2004, the data have been compiled in a record of nightly conditions, and this record is vital to the analysis of events observed by the fluorescence telescopes. We will review the atmospheric monitoring techniques used at the observatory and discuss the influence of atmospheric measurements on estimates of shower observables using real and simulated data. Keywords: ultra high-energy cosmic rays, air fluorescence technique, atmospheric monitoring