The Pierre Auger Observatory: Leading the Astroparticle Physics field into a Golden Era

by Rúben Conceição (LIP)

The Pierre Auger Observatory stands as the world's largest scientific facility exclusively dedicated to the exploration of ultra-high-energy cosmic rays (UHECRs). Over the course of nearly two decades, the Pierre Auger Collaboration has been at the forefront of unravelling the origin and nature of these exceptionally high-energy particles, pushing the boundaries of our understanding.



The detection of UHECRs, given their extremely low flux, needs an indirect approach involving the observation of extensive air showers triggered by their interaction with Earth's atmosphere. While inferring the primary mass composition of these cosmic rays remains a significant challenge, the study of these air showers presents a unique opportunity to investigate fundamental particle physics phenomena at energy levels beyond the reach of terrestrial accelerators.



In this presentation, I will introduce the Pierre Auger Observatory, delve into its significant scientific breakthroughs regarding UHECRs, and discuss our current comprehension of high-energy hadronic interactions that govern air shower development. Additionally, I will outline the Observatory's forthcoming upgrade program and the anticipated scientific advancements it holds for the years ahead.