@article{88676f3faf394a98ba755cdeb05104ac,
title = "The Pierre Auger Cosmic Ray Observatory",
abstract = "The Pierre Auger Observatory, located on a vast, high plain in western Argentina, is the world's largest cosmic ray observatory. The objectives of the Observatory are to probe the origin and characteristics of cosmic rays above 1017 eV and to study the interactions of these, the most energetic particles observed in nature. The Auger design features an array of 1660 water Cherenkov particle detector stations spread over 3000 km2 overlooked by 24 air fluorescence telescopes. In addition, three high elevation fluorescence telescopes overlook a 23.5 km2, 61-detector infilled array with 750 m spacing. The Observatory has been in successful operation since completion in 2008 and has recorded data from an exposure exceeding 40,000 km2 sr yr. This paper describes the design and performance of the detectors, related subsystems and infrastructure that make up the Observatory.",
keywords = "Air fluorescence detectors, High energy cosmic rays, Hybrid observatory, Pierre Auger Observatory, Water Cherenkov detectors",
author = "\{The Pierre Auger Collaboration Pierre Auger Collaboration\} and A. Aab and P. Abreu and M. Aglietta and Ahn, \{E. J.\} and \{Al Samarai\}, I. and Albert, \{J. N.\} and Albuquerque, \{I. F.M.\} and I. Allekotte and J. Allen and P. Allison and A. Almela and \{Alvarez Castillo\}, J. and J. Alvarez-Mu{\~n}iz and \{Alves Batista\}, R. and M. Ambrosio and A. Aminaei and L. Anchordoqui and S. Andringa and C. Aramo and Aranda, \{V. M.\} and S. Argir{\`o} and K. Arisaka and F. Arneodo and F. Arqueros and T. Asch and H. Asorey and P. Assis and J. Aublin and M. Ave and M. Avenier and G. Avila and N. Awal and Badescu, \{A. M.\} and M. Balzer and Barber, \{K. B.\} and A. Barbosa and N. Barenthien and J. B{\"a}uml and C. Baus and Beatty, \{J. J.\} and Becker, \{K. H.\} and Bellido, \{J. A.\} and S. BenZvi and C. Berat and T. Bergmann and Bertaina, \{M. E.\} and Biermann, \{P. L.\} and R. Bilhaut and P. Billoir and \{Van Vliet\}, A.",
note = "Funding Information: A six-month design workshop was held in 1995 that produced a Design Report [32] with a discussion of the science, a conceptual design and cost estimate. The design report became the basis for funding proposals by the collaborating countries. Subsequent to the workshop a team of scientists evaluated numerous prospective sites in both hemispheres. Preferred sites were selected in the southern and northern hemispheres by the collaboration in 1995 and 1996, respectively. At the direction of the funding agencies, the project was to begin by building the Observatory in the southern hemisphere. Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2015 The Author. Published by Elsevier B.V.",
year = "2015",
month = oct,
day = "21",
doi = "10.1016/j.nima.2015.06.058",
language = "British English",
volume = "798",
pages = "172--213",
journal = "Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research, Section A: Accelerators, Spectrometers, Detectors and Associated Equipment",
issn = "0168-9002",
publisher = "Elsevier B.V.",
}