Objective
The key to identifying the sources of ultra-high energy cosmic rays lies in the detection of anisotropies in the distribution of arrival directions. This proposal regards the study of anisotropies with the Pierre Auger Observatory, an international project with significant European contribution, consisting of two matching cosmic ray detectors, one in each hemisphere, for full sky coverage. The Southern Auger Observatory in Argentina is taking data and approaching completion in 2008 with an instrumented area of 3000 km2; the design and R&D phase for the Northern Auger Observatory to be built in Colorado, USA, with an area of 10000 km2, is in progress. The present proposal provides a bridge between the two parts of the Auger project through the study of the exposure for searching the sources of ultra-high-energy cosmic rays. On one aspect of the work, the proponent will conduct analysis of anisotropies, at small and large scales, with the data available from the Southern Observatory. These analysis will start from the study of the trigger, aperture and stability of the detector. Then, based on this, the proponent will work on the project of a new trigger for the Northern Observatory to realize a seamless exposure with respect to the Southern Observatory. Such a proposal will allow the applicant, an experienced researcher in the field of cosmic ray data analysis, to diversify her skills by applying them to a novel detector, and to acquire new competences from the experience of data processing of the Auger group at the host institution. This group also has an important role in the design of the electronics for the Northern Observatory and in the layout of the Auger North proposal. The group’s recognized expertise in the project of instrumentation for astroparticle physics and strong involvement in physics organization will allow the proponent to widen her competences both from the technical and managerial point of view
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Call for proposal
FP7-PEOPLE-2007-2-1-IEF
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Funding Scheme
MC-IEF - Intra-European Fellowships (IEF)Coordinator
75794 Paris
France