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Dear Colleagues,
writing this letter I wish to summarize a meeting of US Auger groups held at Colorado State University (CSU) from 28 Feb to 2 March, and to prepare forthcoming discussions in Malargue.
As you all know we were encouraged
to start the Auger Project with the Southern Observatory in
To achieve completion of the Southern Observatory and to secure all funds for that in a timely manner is a necessary condition before construction of a Northern Auger site can begin. However, the reverse is maybe also true, read on.
The scientific case for full-sky coverage is compelling. The astronomy is very different in the Southern and Northern hemispheres. Results obtained in the South in terms of source distribution or (an)isotropy and shape of the energy spectrum cannot simply be extrapolated to the Northern hemisphere. The importance of full-sky coverage is not
dependent on the existence of a GZK cutoff. There is a multitude of other arguments.
The feeling at the CSU
meeting was that we should do what we had planned from the beginning plus make
a bold step forward into the next generation of technology and scope. People
saw at the heart of the Northern site a system symmetrical to the Argentine
Observatory, but extending to a _substantially_ larger size, with optimized
detector spacing and with new techniques if feasible. In this context we
discussed modified tank designs, spacings of more
than 2 km, fluorescence detection and integration of radio antenna. We were
encouraged by
It is important that the Pierre Auger Collaboration discusses the strategy and stands behind it. It is evident that the global concept can only work together with a new campaign to raise 10M$ for the Southern Observatory. This will be the main objective of the Finance Board meeting to be held May 2,3 in Malargue. New techniques like radio detection will also be incorporated into the Southern site. The idea to integrate the AGASA scintillators is still valid and interesting.
Given the long lead time of
funding requests it is appropriate to start the process now, at least for the
We will give these issues a high profile at the Collaboration Meeting in Malargue. A writeup on the scientific case is in preparation. It will be a good opportunity to present our ideas to the community at the ICRC in an open session.
Scientifically we'll be in a good situation in late 2003 with stereo hybrid operation. Some 50+ papers submitted to The ICRC are an impressive achievement foro the Engineering array. Many invitations to major other conferences - not only for the inner circle of the cosmic ray community - speak for themselves and are an important indication to funding agencies that we do something relevant.
Looking forward to your feedback,