Speaker
Description
The origin and nature of cosmic rays in the EeV energy range remain one of the major open questions in astroparticle physics. Their energies far exceed those attainable by human-made accelerators, and their extremely low flux makes direct detection by space-based instruments unfeasible. For over two decades, the Pierre Auger Observatory—a 3000 km² array of instruments spread across the Argentinean pampa—has been recording extensive air showers resulting from the interaction of ultra-high-energy cosmic rays with the atmosphere, using a hybrid detection approach that combines multiple, complementary measurement techniques.
Detailed measurements of the longitudinal shower profile and the spatial distribution of secondary particles at ground level provide valuable insights into the cosmic-ray energy spectrum, anisotropies, and composition. In this talk, we present some of the latest results from the Pierre Auger Observatory related to these key measurements, along with recent findings on hadronic interactions and muon content.
With the recent upgrade of the Observatory, AugerPrime — aimed primarily at improving the characterization of the muonic component — and its extended operation through 2035, a wealth of new and unique measurements is anticipated in the coming years.
