M. Avenier

Techniques for Measuring Aerosol Attenuation using the Central Laser Facility at the Pierre Auger Observatory

The Pierre Auger Observatory in Malargüe, Argentina, is de igned to study the properties of ultra-high energy cosmic rays with energies above 1018 eV. It is a hybrid facility that employs a Fluorescence Detector to perform nearly calorime t ic measurements of Extensive Air Shower energies. To obtain reliable calorimetric informat ion from the FD, the atmospheric conditions at the observatory need to be continuously monitored d uring data acquisition. In particular, light attenuation due to aerosols is an important atmospher ic co rection. The aerosol concentration is highly variable, so that the aerosol attenuation needs to be evaluated hourly. We use light from the Central Laser Facility, located near the center of the ob servatory site, having an optical signature comparable to that of the highest energy showers detect ed by the FD. This paper presents two procedures developed to retrieve the aerosol attenuation o f fluorescence light from CLF laser shots. Cross checks between the two methods demonstrate that resul ts from both analyses are compatible, and that the uncertainties are well understood. The mea sur ments of the aerosol attenuation provided by the two procedures are currently used at the Pier re Auger Observatory to reconstruct air shower data.The Pierre Auger Observatory in Malargue, Argentina, is designed to study the properties of ultra-high energy cosmic rays with energies above 10(18) eV. It is a hybrid facility that employs a Fluorescence Detector to perform nearly calorimetric measurements of Extensive Air Shower energies. To obtain reliable calorimetric information from the FD, the atmospheric conditions at the observatory need to be continuously monitored during data acquisition. In particular, light attenuation due to aerosols is an important atmospheric correction. The aerosol concentration is highly variable, so that the aerosol attenuation needs to be evaluated hourly. We use light from the Central Laser Facility, located near the center of the observatory site, having an optical signature comparable to that of the highest energy showers detected by the FD. This paper presents two procedures developed to retrieve the aerosol attenuation of fluorescence light from CLF laser shots. Cross checks between the two methods demonstrate that results from both analyses are compatible, and that the uncertainties are well understood. The measurements of the aerosol attenuation provided by the two procedures are currently used at the Pierre Auger Observatory to reconstruct air shower data.