The Fluorescence Detector of the Pierre Auger Observatory

Understand

The Pierre Auger Observatory is a hybrid detector for ultra-high energy cosmic rays.

• It combines a surface array to measure secondary particles at ground level together with a fluorescence detector to measure the development of air showers in the atmosphere above the array.
• The fluorescence detector comprises 24 large telescopes specialized for measuring the nitrogen fluorescence caused by charged particles of cosmic ray air showers.
• In this paper we describe the components of the fluorescence detector including its optical system, the design of the camera, the electronics, and the systems for relative and absolute calibration.