The Pierre Auger Observatory scaler mode for the study of solar activity modulation of galactic cosmic rays

Since data-taking began in January 2004, the Pierre Auger Observatory has been recording the count rates of low energy secondary cosmic ray particles for the self-calibration of the ground detectors of its surface detector array. After correcting for atmospheric effects, modulations of galactic cosmic rays due to solar activity and transient events are observed. Temporal variations related with the activity of the heliosphere can be determined with high accuracy due to the high total count rates. In this study, the available data are presented together with an analysis focused on the observation of Forbush decreases, where a strong correlation with neutron monitor data is found.Comision Nacional de Energia Atomica, ArgentinaFundacion AntorchasGobierno De La Provincia de Mendoza, Municipalidad de Malargue, ArgentinaNDM HoldingsValle Las Lenas, ArgentinaAustralian Research Council (ARC)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)Financiadora de Estudos e Projetos (FINEP)Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado do Rio de Janeiro (FAPERJ)Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Ministério da Ciência, Tecnologia e Inovação do Brasil (MCTI)Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic (AVCR) [AV0Z10100502] [AV0Z10100522] [GAAV KJB300100801] [KJB100100904] [MSMT-CR LA08016] [LC527] [1M06002] [MSM0021620859]Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Centre de Calcul IN2P3/CNRSConseil Regional Ile-de-France, Departement Physique Nucleaire et Corpusculaire [PNC-IN2P3/CNRS]Departement Sciences de l`Univers (SDU-INSU/CNRS), FranceBundesministerium fur Bildung und Forschung (BMBF)Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG)Finanzministerium Baden-WurttembergHelmholtz-Gemeinschaft Deutscher Forschungszentren (HGF)Ministerium fur Wissenschaft und Forschung, Nordrhein-Westfalen, GermanyMinisterium fur Wissenschaft, Forschung und Kunst, Baden-Wurttemberg, GermanyIstituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare (INFN)Istituto Nazionale di Astrofisica (INAF)Ministero dell Istruzione, dell Universita e della Ricerca (MIUR), ItalyConsejo Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnologia (CONACYT), MexicoMinisterie van Onderwijs, Cultuur en Wetenschap, Nederlandse Organisatie voor Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek (NWO)Stichting voor Fundamenteel Onderzoek der Materie (FOM), NetherlandsMinistry of Science and Higher Education, Poland [1 P03 D 014 30] [N N202 207238]Fundacao para a Ciencia e a Tecnologia (FCT), PortugalMinistry for Higher Education, Science, and Technology, Slovenian Research Agency, SloveniaComunidad de Madrid, SpainConsejeria de Educacion de la Comunidad de Castilla La ManchaFondo Europeo de Desarrollo Regional (FEDER)Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovacion, Consolider-Ingenio, SpainGeneralitat ValencianaJunta de AndaluciaXunta de Galicia, SpainScience and Technology Facilities Council, United KingdomU.S. Department of Energy (DOE) [DE-AC02-07CH11359] [DE-FR02-04ER41300]National Science Foundation (NSF) [0450696]Grainger Foundation USAALFA-EC / HELENEuropean Union [MEIF-CT-2005-025057] [PIEF-GA-2008-220240]United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO

Operations of and Future Plans for the Pierre Auger Observatory

Contributions to the 31st ICRC, Lodz, Poland, July 2009International audienceTechnical reports on operations and features of the Pierre Auger Observatory, including ongoing and planned enhancements and the status of the future northern hemisphere portion of the Observatory. Contributions to the 31st International Cosmic Ray Conference, Lodz, Poland, July 2009

Calibration and Monitoring of the Pierre Auger Observatory

Reports on the atmospheric monitoring, calibration, and other operating systems of the Pierre Auger Observatory. Contributions to the 31st International Cosmic Ray Conference, Lodz, Poland, July 2009

Astrophysical Sources of Cosmic Rays and Related Measurements with the Pierre Auger Observatory

Studies of the correlations of ultra-high energy cosmic ray directions with extra-Galactic objects, of general anisotropy, of photons and neutrinos, and of other astrophysical effects, with the Pierre Auger Observatory. Contributions to the 31st ICRC, Lodz, Poland, July 2009

The Cosmic Ray Energy Spectrum and Related Measurements with the Pierre Auger Observatory

Studies of the cosmic ray energy spectrum at the highest energies with the Pierre Auger Observatory

Studies of Cosmic Ray Composition and Air Shower Structure with the Pierre Auger Observatory

Submissions to the 31st International Cosmic Ray Conference, Lodz, Poland (July 2009)International audienceStudies of the composition of the highest energy cosmic rays with the Pierre Auger Observatory, including examination of hadronic physics effects on the structure of extensive air showers. Submissions to the 31st ICRC, Lodz, Poland (July 2009)