Physics and Astronomy, Department of

 

Department of Physics and Astronomy: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

First Advisor

Gregory Snow

Date of this Version

5-2010

Document Type

Thesis

Citation

A thesis presented to the faculty of the Graduate College at the University of Nebraska in partial fulfillment of requirements for the degree of Master of Science

Major: Physics and Astronomy

Under the supervision of Professor Gregory Snow

Lincoln, Nebraska, May 2010

Comments

Copyright 2010, Emily B. Petermann. Used by permission

Abstract

The Pierre Auger Cosmic Ray Observatory currently operates four elastic lidar systems in order to characterize the atmospheric aerosol content above the observatory. The atmospheric information gained by the lidar system is then used in the calibration of the observatory’s four fluorescence detectors. Currently the four lidars in operation are unable to accurately determine the aerosol content below a distance of 1 km. A project is currently underway to upgrade the current lidar system by adding an additional detector to each of the existing lidar systems. The considered designs for this upgrade and the initial results from the upgrade prototype are the subject of this thesis.

Share

COinS