The Auger Group at IAP

Experimental observations of cosmic particles with energies of more than 10²⁰ eV represent a fundamental mystery of modern physics. More than 250 scientists of the Pierre Auger collaboration from 17 countries hope to solve this mystery with the AugerPrime detector upgrade employing two different types of particle detectors, optical fluorescence telescopes, and radio antennas.

Cosmic rays contain particles with extremely high energies. Their origin as well as their propagation to the earth are a central mystery of modern science. Since these particles occur only very rarely (about one particle per square kilometer and century), particularly large detector facilities are required for the investigation, of which the Pierre Auger Observatory covering an area of 3,000 km² is the largest. The high-energy particles create cascades of secondary particles in the Earth's atmosphere, so-called extensive air showers, which can be observed by various methods.

Numerous scientists, PhD students and technicians work in the Auger group at IAP. The group is a leader in many areas of research conducted at the Pierre Auger Observatory.