Calibration of the logarithmic-periodic dipole antenna (LPDA) radio stations at the Pierre Auger Observatory using an octocopter

AAB, A.; ABREU, P.; AGLIETTA, M.; AL SAMARAI, I.; ALBUQUERQUE, I.F.M.; ALLEKOTTE, I.; ALMELA, A.; CASTILLO, J. ALVAREZ; ALVAREZ-MUÑIZ, J.; ANASTASI, G.A.; ANCHORDOQUI, L.; ANDRADA, B.; ANDRINGA, S.; ARAMO, C.; ARQUEROS, F.; ARSENE, N.; ASOREY, H.; ASSIS, P.; AUBLIN, J.; AVILA, G.; BADESCU, A.M.; BALACEANU, A.; BARBATO, F.; LUZ, R.J. BARREIRA; BEATTY, J.J.; BECKER, K.H.; BELLIDO, J.A.; BERAT, C.; BERTAINA, M.E.; BERTOU, X.; BIERMANN, P.L.; BILLOIR, P.; BITEAU, J.; BLAESS, S.G.; BLANCO, A.; BLAZEK, J.; BLEVE, C.; BOHÁCOVÁ, M.; BONCIOLI, D.; BONIFAZI, C.; BORODAI, N.; BOTTI, A.M.; BRACK, J.; BRANCUS, I.; BRETZ, T.; BRIDGEMAN, A.; BRIECHLE, F.L.; BUCHHOLZ, P.; BUENO, A.; BUITINK, S.; BUSCEMI, M.; CABALLERO-MORA, K.S.; CACCIANIGA, L.; CANCIO, A.; CANFORA, F.; CARAMETE, L.; CARUSO, R.; CASTELLINA, A.; CATALDI, G.; CAZON, L.; CHAVEZ, A.G.; CHINELLATO, J.A.; CHUDOBA, J.; CLAY, R.W.; COBOS, A.; COLALILLO, R.; COLEMAN, A.; COLLICA, L.; COLUCCIA, M.R.; CONCEIÇÃO, R.; CONSOLATI, G.; CONTRERAS, F.; COOPER, M.J.; COUTU, S.

JOURNAL OF INSTRUMENTATION

IOP PUBLISHING LTD

Año: 2017 vol. 12

1748-0221

An in-situ calibration of a logarithmic periodic dipole antenna with a frequency coverage of 30MHz to 80MHz is performed. Such antennas are part of a radio station system used for detection of cosmic ray induced air showers at the Engineering Radio Array of the Pierre Auger Observatory, the so-called Auger Engineering Radio Array (AERA). The directional and frequency characteristics of the broadband antenna are investigated using a remotely piloted aircraft carrying a small transmitting antenna. The antenna sensitivity is described by the vector effective length relating the measured voltage with the electric-field components perpendicular to the incoming signal direction. The horizontal and meridional components are determined with an overall uncertainty of 7.4+0.9 -0.3% and 10.3+2.8 -1.7% respectively. The measurement is used to correct a simulated response of the frequency and directional response of the antenna. In addition, the influence of the ground conductivity and permittivity on the antenna response is simulated. Both have a negligible influence given the ground conditions measured at the detector site. The overall uncertainties of the vector effective length components result in an uncertainty of 8.8+2.1 -1.3% in the square root of the energy fluence for incoming signal directions with zenith angles smaller than 60°.