The energy spectrum of UHECRs across 3/4 of the sky
New measurements from an observatory in Argentina suggest that all the most energetic cosmic rays arise from the same types of extragalactic accelerators.
MoreMapping the distribution of ultra-high-energy cosmic rays along the Supergalactic Plane
Recently, the Pierre Auger Collaboration systematically studied the distribution of ultra-high-energy cosmic rays at an intermediate angular scale...
MoreAn unlikely pairing – cosmic ray detectors and space lasers prove mutually beneficial
When ESA's groundbreaking Aeolus satellite began experiencing a mysterious signal loss in 2019, help came from the Pierre Auger Observatory.
MoreHighlighting the Scintillator Surface Detector
As part of the AugerPrime upgrade, scintillator detectors (SSD) have been added to the existing water-Cherenkov surface detector stations.
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AI-powered algorithm sheds new light on the mass composition of cosmic rays at ultra-high energies
Researchers are paving the way for a deeper understanding of the origins of UHECR.
MoreNew Feature found in UHECR Energy Spectrum
The energy spectrum of the highest-energy particles in the Universe, ultra-high energy cosmic rays, has been measured with the Pierre Auger Observatory with an unprecedented precision. In addition to the well-known kink in the energy spectrum, typically referred to as the ankle, a new spectral break is found at somewhat higher energy. This new break in the energy spectrum can be explained by an energy-dependent mass composition of cosmic rays. The results are published in two related papers (Phys. Rev. Lett. 125, 121106 (2020) and Phys. Rev. D 102, 062005 (2020)).
This determination of the energy spectrum is unique in having an unprecedented exposure of more than 60,000 km2 sr yr, in its method of determining the spectrum free of assumptions about the mass composition of the initial cosmic ray particle, and about details of the hadronic physics of air showers.