| Description |
The High Resolution Fly's Eye (HiRes) detector is dedicated to the observation of extremely high energy (> 1018eV) cosmic rays and has been collecting data since the summer of 1997. The analysis of this data is the subject of this paper. Chapter 1 is a review of the history and nature of cosmic rays. It describes various detectors used to measure them and their results. The importance of cosmic rays is discussed as well as the relevant physics questions we seek to answer. Chapter 2 describes the interaction of cosmic rays with the atmosphere of Earth to produce Extensive Air Showers (EAS). It details the nature of the interactions that take place within the EAS as well as how these interactions enable detection of the EAS. This chapter details the attempts by the HiRes detector to measure such EAS. It also discusses the advantages and disadvantages of this method. Chapter 3 outlines the analysis chain used on monocular data. It describes the methods to apply calibration to and filter the data and to reconstruct events. This chapter steps through the event reconstruction methods used to pin down the details of the EAS so that the initial particles energy can be accurately measured. |
