ARGENTINA: Central and East European scientists participate in international project

Record ID: 446634

  • Title: ARGENTINA: Central and East European scientists participate in international project
  • Date: 24th November 2008
  • Summary: (CEEF) MALARGUE, ARGENTINA (RECENT) (REUTERS) CAR DRIVING ON ROAD WITH SIGN FOR TOWN ON HILLSIDE SCIENTISTS ENTERING THE PIERRE AUGER OBSERVATORY POSTER WITH INFORMATION ABOUT OBSERVATORY (SOUNDBITE) (Czech) CZECH ASTROPHYSICIST, JIRI GRYGAR, SAYING: "Here is a small scale model of the observatory, because the area of the observatory is 3000 square kilometres which means that it is approximately 60 times 50 kilometres shown here on the map.
  • Embargoed: 9th December 2008 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Argentina
  • Country: Argentina
  • Topics: International Relations,Science / Technology
  • Reuters ID: LVA3NVRIL2MZRCG3BK4GSK8VXELU
  • Story Text: Scientists from the Czech Republic, Poland and Slovenia are taking part in an international study of cosmic rays in Argentina.
    The study at the newly opened Pierre Auger Cosmic Ray Observatory in Western Argentina, is the first of its kind to measure cosmic rays, the universe's highest energy particles to reach Earth in two different ways simultaneously.
    The Auger Observatory aims to find answers to cosmic rays' origin and existence.
    The observatory covers 3,000 square kilometres and involves 280 scientists from 70 institutions worldwide.
    Czech astrophysicist, Jiri Grygar is one of the scientists taking part in the project. He says the new observatory is unique due its ability to conduct research using two methods.

    "This observatory is the only one in the world to use two different types of cosmic ray detection. This allows it to receive much more exact data than previously," Grygar said.
    The most visible technique used is named after Soviet physicist, Pavel Alekseyevich Cherenkov. The method detects cosmic rays through their interaction with water. Therefore sixteen hundred water tanks have been placed around the Pierre Auger Observatory.
    When cosmic rays, which travel faster than the speed of light travel through the water tanks, scientists can monitor the electromagnetic shock waves which produce Cherenkov light.
    The other method uses optical detectors, and cameras track the high energy particles emitted high in the Earth's atmosphere.
    Large mirrors collect the ultraviolet light, released when the charged particles mix with atmospheric nitrogen. A human eye cannot see the light, but cameras capture the direction the lights have come from.
    Czech astrophysicist, Miroslav Hrabovsky has made the 12 mirrors set up to monitor the cosmic rays. Each mirror consists of 24 smaller six-sided mirrors.

    "They have to be produced very thin, exact and accurate, so that it fulfils its purpose," Hrabovsky said.
    A team from the Institute of Nucela Pahisics in Krakow has worked on mounting the mirrors.

    "We are cooperating very closely with the Czech groups from Prague and Olomouc. We have been mounting the fluorescent mirrors with them. In Krakow we produced the mechanical part necessary for mounting the mirrors," Polish astrophysicist Henryk Wilczynski said.
    Darko Veberic from the Nova Gracia university in Slovenia said their involvement has developed along with the project.

    "Slovenia was first involved in the monitoring of atmospheric conditions. But we are focusing on analysis and reconstruction of the data, particularly on how the magnetic field of the galaxy influences earth,"
    Veberic said.
    The 50 million USD Auger Project is the brainchild of astrophysicist and Nobel Price winner, Jim Cronin and astrophysicist Alan Watson.
    Seventeen countries are financing and providing expertise to the Pierre Auger Observatory.
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