Weather corrections for a point source search at the Pierre Auger Observatory [Elektronische Ressource] / vorgelegt von Thomas Bäcker

Weather Correctionsfor a Point Source Searchat the Pierre Auger ObservatoryDissertationzur Erlangung des akademischen Grades einesDoktors der Naturwissenschaftenvorgelegt vonDiplom-Physiker Thomas Bäcker,geboren am 5. Juni 1972 in Karl–Marx–Stadt,genehmigt vom Fachbereich Physikder Universität SiegenSiegenJuli 2010Gutachter der Dissertation: Univ.-Prof. Dr. I. Fleck Dr. M. RisseDatum der Disputation: 9. August 2010gedruckt auf alterungsbeständigem holz- und säurefreiem PapierAbstractAt energies up to some 100TeV, cosmic radiation can be detected by means of particledetectors installed aboard a balloon or a satellite. At higher particle energies, the flux ofthe radiation drops significantly and large detection volumes are inevitable to acquirea sufficiently large amount of cosmic ray data in a short period of time. Extensive airshower experiments are exploiting the atmosphere above the actual experimental setupas a detector volume. Therefore, they are capable of recording cosmic ray data even atthe highest energies. The properties of the primordial particle, however, can only beinferred from the extensive air showers, i.e. the cascades of secondary particles, that aremeasured by the detector setup at ground level. The performance of such experimentsis thus subject to variations caused by, among other things, the instantaneous state ofthe atmosphere.