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| Author(s): |
Bruno Daniel
Total Authors: 1
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| Document type: | Doctoral Thesis |
| Press: | Campinas, SP. |
| Institution: | Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP). Instituto de Física Gleb Wataghin |
| Defense date: | 2018-02-22 |
| Examining board members: |
Ernesto Kemp;
Carola Dobrigkeit Chinellato;
Anderson Campos Fauth;
Ettore Segreto;
Edivaldo Moura Santos;
Luiz Vitor de Souza Filho
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| Advisor: | Ernesto Kemp |
| Abstract | |
The Pierre Auger Observatory was built to study the ultra-high energy cosmic rays to understand their origin, acceleration processes, propagation and mass composition. A hybrid technique is exploited, by using an array of 1600 water-Cherenkov stations over a 3000 km² area, overlooked by 24 fluorescence telescopes. Very important results have been obtained since the beginning of the data taking, in 2004, in particular on the features of the energy spectrum, the composition, and anisotropy of cosmic rays above 3 EeV. The study of these particles is fundamental to improve our knowledge in astrophysics and hadronic physics at energies above the reach of current accelerators. A low energy enhancement of the Observatory was also built to extend the measurements to the energy region down to 10$^{17}$ eV, thus getting new insights in the region below the ankle of the spectrum, with the addition of composition information. It includes three additional fluorescence detectors (HEAT) and an infill of 60 water-Cherenkov stations (AMIGA - Auger Muons and Infilled Ground Array) placed at a mutual distance of 750 m (half the standard one). Aside from each station of the infill, 30 m² buried scintillator counters will allow counting muons directly. This thesis is related to the development of AMIGA, especially in what regards the muon detection. Air-shower simulations were performed to provide insights on the behavior of the different particle components at the surface and underground at the depth of the muon counters. Using data collected in the first months of operation of the AMIGA unitary cell of seven stations, the muon counting technique was reviewed. The twin detectors deployed at two locations were used to check the consistency of the measurements and to obtain the accuracy of the muon counters, resulting in the discovery of calibration problems in some of the detectors. A shielding analysis was performed with data of scintillators placed at different depths, providing information which contributed to the choice of the ideal point to maximize the muon signal and minimize electromagnetic punch-through (AU) | |
| FAPESP's process: | 12/15476-8 - Development of detectors for the AMIGA experiment of the Pierre Auger Observatory |
| Grantee: | Bruno Daniel |
| Support Opportunities: | Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate |