Bibliography: p. 157-167. / ii, 180 p. : ill. ; 30 cm. / Title page, contents and abstract only. The complete thesis in print form is available from the University Library. / Presents results of searches made with the Buckland Park and SUGAR data sets for Ultra High Energy gamma-ray emission from certain astrophysical objects. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Adelaide, Dept. of Physics and Mathematical Physics, 1994

Το Δεκέμβρη του 2013 στην Κέντρο Παιδείας Επιστημών της Πάτρας εγκαταστάθηκε και έλαβε μετρήσεις ένας σταθμός HELYCON τριών ανιχνευτών σπινθηρισμών και μία κεραία LOFAR. Σκοπός μας ήταν η καταγραφή Εκτεταμένων Ατμοσφαιρικών Καταιονισμών τόσο με το σταθμό HELYCON όσο και με την κεραία η οποία λειτούργησε με σήμα σκανδαλισμού από το σταθμό. Στην εργασία αυτή περιγράφεται η μέθοδος με την οποία βαθμονομήθηκε ο συγκεκριμένος σταθμός, η λειτουργία του καθώς και η ανάλυση των μετρήσεων. Αρχικά περιγράφεται η διαδικασία με την οποία βαθμονομούνται οι φωτοπολλάπλασιαστές στο εργαστήριο φυσικής του Ελληνικού Ανοικτού Πανεπιστημίου. Στην συνέχεια παρουσιάζονται τα στάδια από τα οποία περνάει ένας ανιχνευτής ώστε να εκτιμηθούν τα λειτουργικά του χαρακτηριστικά. Τέλος πραγματοποιούνται μετρήσεις βαθμονόμησης της ομάδας ανιχνευτών που θα αποτελέσουν ένα σταθμό HELYCON. Η εργασία ολοκληρώνεται με την ανάλυση των δεδομένων και τη σύγκρισή τους με τα αποτελέσματα που προέκυψαν από την προσομοίωση Monte Carlo. Η συμφωνία του πειράματος και της προσομοίωσης επιβεβαιώνουν την αξιόπιστη λειτουργία του σταθμού. Όλες οι παραπάνω διαδικασίες γίνονται σύμφωνα με την μεθοδολογία που παρουσιάζεται στη διδακτορική διατριβή του Δρ. Μπουρλή. / The subject of the current work is the extensive air showers, their Detection and reconstruction.

No description available.

Nesta tese investigamos uma possível componente de partículas previstas por modelos além do modelo padrão da física de partículas, como por exemplo o massive gluino LSP, nos raios cósmicos de altíssimas energias (UHECR). Nosso objetivo é determinar os sinais experimentais em telescópios de fluorescência devidos a hádrons exóticos massivos e neutros, genericamente denominados de UHECRons. Para simular chuveiros iniciados por essa classe de partículas, alteramos o pacote Aires de simulação de chuveiros atmosféricos e o modelo hadrônico Sibyll. Estes chuveiros foram utilizados como entrada em simulações de telescópios de fluorescência por nós desenvolvidas, obtendo-se assim as distribuições dos observáveis desses chuveiros exóticos. A partir da comparação entre as características de chuveiros iniciados uhecrons e prótons, desenvolvemos métodos para a separação de sinais entre esses dois tipos de partículas. Esses métodos podem ser utilizados em uma análise inicial, com o intuito de procurar por sinais de partículas exóticas nos dados reais de observatórios de UHECR. / In this thesis we investigate a possible component of particles predicted by models beyond the standard model of particle physics, like the massive gluino LSP, in the ultra high energy cosmic rays (UHECR). Our objective is to determine the experimental signals on fluorescence telescopes due to exotic massive and neutral hadrons, generically called UHECRons. To simulate showers initiated by this class of particle, we altered the shower simulation package Aires and the hadronic model Sibyll. These showers were used as input in our simulations of fluorescence telescopes, thus obtaining the distribuitons of the observables for these exotic showers. By comparing the characteristics of showers initiated by uhecrons and protons, we developed methods to distinguish the signals between these two particles. These methods can be used in an initial analysis in order to look for signals of exotic particles in the real data of UHECR observatories.

Plus d'un siècle après leur découverte, les rayons cosmiques continuent d'intriguer les physiciens. Le flux de ces particules d'origine extraterrestre décroît fortement en fonction de leur énergie. Au-delà de 1 PeV(10¹⁵ eV), le flux devient trop faible pour permettre la détection directe sur des échelles de temps raisonnables. Cependant, les cascades de particules secondaires créées après l'interaction des rayons cosmiques avec les constituants de l'atmosphère sont détectables depuis le sol, c'est la détection indirecte. A partir de 100 PeV, le nombre d'observations est trop faible pour estimer de manière précise la masse des rayons cosmiques et ainsi contraindre les modèles de mécanismes d'accélération, de propagation et de type de sources. La détermination de la composition est effectuée à l'Observatoire Pierre Auger par les télescopes de fluorescence via la mesure de la variable Xmax avec un cycle utile de 14%. Xmax est la profondeur d'atmosphère traversée à laquelle le nombre de particules secondaires atteint sa valeur maximale. Cette observable est fortement corrélée à la masse du rayon cosmique qui a initié la gerbe. Un grand nombre d'observations est requis pour effectuer une détermination précise de la masse car les fluctuations statistiques de Xmax sont importantes. La radio détection apparaît alors comme une excellente alternative à la détection par fluorescence, puisque la technique mesurant ce signal a un cycle utile proche de 100%. Cette thèse propose une méthode d'estimation de la masse des rayons cosmiques d'ultra haute énergie basée seulement sur l'étude des signaux radio et leur simulation, afin de reconstruire de manière systématique l’énergie, le cœur et la profondeur Xmax des gerbes détectées par l’expérience AERA sur le site de l'Observatoire Pierre Auger en Argentine. L'influence de la modélisation de l'atmosphère dans le code de simulation SELFAS sur les valeurs reconstruites est étudiée. Notamment la géométrie des couches atmosphériques, la manière de traiter l'indice de réfraction et la densité de l'air ainsi que leurs variations journalières et saisonnières. / More than a century after their discovery, cosmic-raysare still puzzling physicists. The flux of these particlescoming from extraterrestrial sources strongly decreasesas a function of their energy. Above 1 PeV (10¹⁵ eV), theparticle flux becomes too low to allow a direct detectionon a reasonable time scale. However, the cascades ofsecondary particles produced after the interaction ofcosmic-rays with the constituents of the atmosphere aredetectable at the ground level; it is the indirect detection.Above 100 PeV, the number of observations is too lowto accurately estimate the mass of the cosmic rays andthen to constrain the prediction models of accelerationmechanisms, propagation and type of sources. Thedetermination of their composition is achieved at thePierre Auger Observatory using fluorescencetelescopes from the measurement of the Xmaxobservable with a duty cycle of 14%. Xmax, defined asthe atmosphere depth at which the number ofsecondary particles reaches its maximal value, is highlycorrelated to the mass of the cosmic ray that hascreated the air shower. A large number of observationsis required for a precise estimation of the mass as theXmax statistical fluctuations are important. The radiodetection is a perfect alternative to the fluorescencemethod as the duty cycle of a typical radio detector isclose to 100%. This thesis proposes a method toestimate the mass of ultra-high energy cosmic raysusing only the radio signals and their simulation. Thegoal is to systematically reconstruct the Xmax depth ofeach air shower detected by the AERA experimentwithin the site of the Pierre Auger Observatory inArgentina. The influence of the description of theatmosphere on the reconstructed shower parameters, inthe SELFAS code, has been studied. It includes thegeometry of the atmospheric layers, the way to calculatethe air refractive index and density, as well as their dailyand seasonal fluctuations.

EUSO-Balloon and EUSO-SPB are balloon borne pathfinder projects designed to val- idate the techniques of the JEM-EUSO space observatory. They are nadir pointing UV telescopes that use experimental experimental Fresnel optics to detect the ultravi- olet emission of Extensive Air Showers (EAS) induced by Ultra High Energy Cosmic Rays (UHECR) in the atmosphere. EUSO-Balloon was launched by the balloon di- vision of CNES (the french space agency) from Timmins, Ontario, Canada in 2014. Despite the success of the mission the performance of the optics was lower than what it was originally modeled and led to many doubts regarding the understanding of the optics and fresnel lenses themselves. This thesis explores three parameters proposed to explain the reduction in eciency of the system which were not simulated in the original characterization: the rounded valleys in the Fresnel lens grooves created by the tool peak radii, scratches on the surface of the lenses and the surface roughness of the fresnel lenses. These parameters were simulated and results show that they show a reduction in performance which approximates more the characterization measure- ments but still do not match exactly, leaving room for further analysis. EUSO-SPB1 is the successor of EUSO-Balloon with a launch planned in 2017 from Wanaka, New Zealand. The results of the first phase of the optics characterization campaign is pre- sented in this work. The results indicate that the optics performance is similar to that of EUSO-Balloon and require further understanding. / <p>Thesis defended in Toulouse, France as part of the SPACEMASTER programme.</p>

No description available.

Ultra-High Energy Cosmic Rays (UHECR) can only be measured by the detection of Extensive Air Showers (EAS) created by the interaction of the cosmic ray particle with an atmospheric nuclei. The inference of some of the properties of UHECR, like their mass composition, is only possible by the comparison of measurements of EAS observables to predictions from Monte Carlo simulations. The most important source of uncertainties on the description of EAS by the simulations is the modeling of hadronic interactions. For many years it has been known that the hadronic interaction models fail on predicting the EAS observables related to their muonic component. The most evident manifestation of that is called muon deficit problem due to the fact that the number of muons in EAS with energies above 1018 eV predicted by simulations is smaller than the observed ones. The aim of this thesis is to approach this problem in three distinct fronts. First, a method is developed to interpret measurements of number of muons in terms of cosmic rays composition in despite of the muon deficit problem. Second, an EAS observable which is sensitive to the muon energy spectrum at ground and, consequently, can be used to constrain hadronic interaction models is proposed and tested. Third and final, the muon production in air showers is studied through measurements of hadron production spectra in pion-carbon interactions. / Raios Cósmicos Ultra Energéticos (Ultra-High Energy Cosmic Rays, UHECR) somente podem ser medidos através da detecção dos Chuveiros Atmosféricos Extensos (Extensive Air Showers, EAS) criados pela interação do raio cósmico primário com núcleos atmoféricos. A inferência de algumas propriedados dos UHECRs, como a composição de massa, é possível somente através da comparação entre medidas de observáveis dos EASs com predições geradas por simulações de Monte Carlo. A fonte de incerteza mais importante na descrição de EAS por simulações é a modelagem das interações hadrônicas. Por muitos anos é sabido que os modelos de interação hadrônica falham na predição de observáveis dos EASs relacionados a sua componente muônica. A manifestação mais evidente disso é chamada problema do déficit de múons devido ao fato que o número de múons em chuveiros com energias acima de 1018 eV predito por simulações é menor que os observados. O objetivo desta tese é abordar este problema através de três frentes. Primeiramente, um método é desenvolvido para interpretar as medidas do número de múons em termos de composição de raios cósmicos considerando o problema do déficit de múons. Segundo, a proposta e o teste de um observável que é sensível ao espectro de energia dos múons na superfície e, consequentemente, pode ser usado para discriminar entre os modelos de interação hadrônica. Por último, a produção de múons em chuveiros é estudada através de medidas do espectro de produção de hádrons em interações do tipo píon-carbono.

Ultra-High Energy Cosmic Rays (UHECR) can only be measured by the detection of Extensive Air Showers (EAS) created by the interaction of the cosmic ray particle with an atmospheric nuclei. The inference of some of the properties of UHECR, like their mass composition, is only possible by the comparison of measurements of EAS observables to predictions from Monte Carlo simulations. The most important source of uncertainties on the description of EAS by the simulations is the modeling of hadronic interactions. For many years it has been known that the hadronic interaction models fail on predicting the EAS observables related to their muonic component. The most evident manifestation of that is called muon deficit problem due to the fact that the number of muons in EAS with energies above 1018 eV predicted by simulations is smaller than the observed ones. The aim of this thesis is to approach this problem in three distinct fronts. First, a method is developed to interpret measurements of number of muons in terms of cosmic rays composition in despite of the muon deficit problem. Second, an EAS observable which is sensitive to the muon energy spectrum at ground and, consequently, can be used to constrain hadronic interaction models is proposed and tested. Third and final, the muon production in air showers is studied through measurements of hadron production spectra in pion-carbon interactions. / Raios Cósmicos Ultra Energéticos (Ultra-High Energy Cosmic Rays, UHECR) somente podem ser medidos através da detecção dos Chuveiros Atmosféricos Extensos (Extensive Air Showers, EAS) criados pela interação do raio cósmico primário com núcleos atmoféricos. A inferência de algumas propriedados dos UHECRs, como a composição de massa, é possível somente através da comparação entre medidas de observáveis dos EASs com predições geradas por simulações de Monte Carlo. A fonte de incerteza mais importante na descrição de EAS por simulações é a modelagem das interações hadrônicas. Por muitos anos é sabido que os modelos de interação hadrônica falham na predição de observáveis dos EASs relacionados a sua componente muônica. A manifestação mais evidente disso é chamada problema do déficit de múons devido ao fato que o número de múons em chuveiros com energias acima de 1018 eV predito por simulações é menor que os observados. O objetivo desta tese é abordar este problema através de três frentes. Primeiramente, um método é desenvolvido para interpretar as medidas do número de múons em termos de composição de raios cósmicos considerando o problema do déficit de múons. Segundo, a proposta e o teste de um observável que é sensível ao espectro de energia dos múons na superfície e, consequentemente, pode ser usado para discriminar entre os modelos de interação hadrônica. Por último, a produção de múons em chuveiros é estudada através de medidas do espectro de produção de hádrons em interações do tipo píon-carbono.

Research of the highest energy cosmic ray particles is in the middle of the interest of theoretical and experimental physics. Their energies are several orders of magnitude higher than energies accessible at present accelerators. In this work, the reconstruction techniques of extensive air showers measured at the Pierre Auger Observatory are studied. For this purpose, extensive air showers are modelled in the simulation tool CORSIKA. Data collected at the Pierre Auger Observatory together with simulations are used to calculate resolutions of reconstruction methods. The Multiple--eye reconstruction is the main interest of this work. It can be used for independent verification of experimental results of the Observatory.