Prof. Dr. Jörg R. Hörandel

The Radio Detector is an extension of the Pierre Auger Observatory. Installation as part of the Auger Upgrade has been completed end of 2024 and the commissioning has been completed in 2025. The 3000 km² array is the largest radio telescope in the world.

Objective is to measure horizontal air showers up to the highest energies. The radio array is an ideal complement to the upgrade of the Observatory, installing scintillators on top each Surface Detector station. The new radio detectors will enhance the science capabilities of the Pierre Auger Observatory in a unique way that could not be addressed otherwise. The significantly increased sky-coverage for composition enhanced anisotropy studies accompanied with unique tests of hadronic interaction models in an energy range not accessible elsewhere offers a rich and unique science.

The RadioDetector has been made possible by an ERC Advanced Grant for Hörandel and a subsidy of the Dutch funding agency NWO.