Development and production of Auger Observatory telescope lenses

Author(s)

Ricardo Sato

• Document type: Doctoral Thesis
• Press: Campinas, SP. , gráficos, ilustrações, tabelas.
• Institution: Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP). Instituto de Física Gleb Wataghin
• Defense date: 2005-06-17

Examining board members

Carlos Ourivio Escobar; Ronald Cintra Shellard; Ivone Freire da Mota e Albuquerque; José Augusto Chinellato; Ernesto Kemp

• Advisor: Carlos Ourivio Escobar
• Field of knowledge: Physical Sciences and Mathematics - Physics
• Indexed in: Base Acervus-UNICAMP; Biblioteca Digital da UNICAMP
• Location: Universidade Estadual de Campinas. Biblioteca Central Cesar Lattes; T/UNICAMP; Sa83d; Universidade Estadual de Campinas. Biblioteca do Instituto de Física Gleb Wataghin; T/UNICAMP; Sa83d

Abstract

Since before its discovery, the study of cosmic rays and its effect has deeply stimulated theorists and experimentalists. Today, one of the great challenge is a explanation of the existence of the ultra high energy cosmic rays, that overcome energies of 1020 eV ~ 16 J. With the goal to investigate the most energetic part of the spectrum, in particular energies above 1019 eV, where the flux is about 1 event per square kilometer per year, the Pierre Auger Observatory is under operation and construction. It will be composed by two large groups of detectors covering 3,000 km2 each one, what is equivalent twice São Paulo city area (1.523,986 kmM2, according to IBGE data). In each site, two independent and complementary detection techniques of extensive air showers will be used: direct observation of the particles which reach the ground and the measurement of the fluorescence light produced by the cascade. The fluorescence detectors consist of Schmidt telescopes with a corrector lens at its aperture. The present work shows the studies developed from the lens conception to its performance in the telescopes, involving the definition of the profile, investigation of its possible advantages, material choice, production method and the optical tests to evaluate quality. Using the lens, it is possible to double the effective light collection area, without deteriorate the telescope optical resolution. It enables a better determination of important shower parameters like the energy and shower maximum (AU)