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Paul Sommers - General Colloquium
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Aug. 29 2002
Paul Sommers, Univ. of Utah, Research Professor Astroparticle Physics
Nature's highest energy particles and the Pierre Auger Cosmic Ray Observatory
The highest energy cosmic rays pose some intriguing puzzles: How do they get their energies? Why do their arrival directions not point to special astrophysical objects? Why is the spectrum not terminated near 6x10^19 eV by particle collisions with the cosmic microwave radiaion? The Auger Project is an ambitious international effort to resolve these questions. I will emphasize the design features which distinguish the Auger Observatory from previous cosmic ray detectors. Full construction is just beginning at the southern hemisphere site in Argentina. Data obtained during the engineering tests are a preview of coming attractions.