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12-03-2010
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Pierre Auger EMC test at Astron

Submitter: Nico Ebbendorf
Description: The detection of radio emission from extensive air showers is a promising new approach to measure the properties of cosmic rays at extremely high energies. At present, Dutch groups are involved in the development of this technique within LOFAR and the Pierre Auger project.

Presently, the Auger Engineering Radio Array (AERA) is being built near Malargue, Argentina at the southern site of the Auger Observatory. It will comprise more than 150 autonomous radio detection stations. Each is powered by a photovoltaic system.

The picture shows a prototype of a radio detection station during an EMC test at the ASTRON test facility, conducted by a group from Radboud University Nijmegen. For an unanimous detection of air showers it is important to keep the electromagnetic noise generated by the station electronics below the signal strength expected from air showers. The radio emission from the electronics has been measured during the test and the electronic components have been optimized to keep the emission below the desired level. After this successful test, the stations will be shipped to Argentina. The first 24 stations of AERA are expected to take data already this summer.

The AERA measurements will complement the observations of air showers with the LOFAR telescope. Dutch scientists are looking forward to exciting times, they expect soon new insights in the radio emission from extensive air showers. Institutions from the Netherlands participating in the Pierre Auger Project are: ASTRON, NIKHEF, KVI Groningen, and Radboud University Nijmegen.

ASTRON has an excellent indoor EMC test facility. It is designed for making Electro Magnetic Compatibility (EMC) measurements in a stable environment. The compact test range is built in a shielded room with an effectiveness shielding of over 70dB. Due to the high shielding effectiveness, this facility is very suitable for making measurements that require a very low level of RF interferences such as low noise measurements. More about this facility can be found at the Astron website.

Copyright: N. Ebbendorf, J�rg H�randel
 
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