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January 7, 2009 Dr. David Nitz was honored by Argentine Governor Celso Alejandro Jaque for his contributions to the scientific advancement of the search for the unknown sources of the highest energy cosmic rays. The ceremony took place during the inauguration of the Auger Observatory on November 14, 2008, in Malargüe, Argentina. Nitz was one of only a handful of scientists in the 450 member international collaboration to receive a personally inscribed silver plate from the governor. The honor follows on the heels of a remarkable breakthrough last fall in establishing the anisotropic distribution of the highest energy cosmic rays. The collaboration published these important results as the cover story for Science magazine in November, 2007. The Pierre Auger Observatory began construction in 2000, and was inaugurated November 13-15, 2008. Michigan Tech faculty Dr. David Nitz and Dr. Brian Fick have been involved in the Auger Observatory for 17 years, since the earliest conceptual ideas. During that period they have made key contributions to all phases of the project. These include measurements of atmospheric clarity that led to the selection of the Argentine site, the design and implementation of the triggering system for the Observatory, as well as important design concepts for the novel wireless data communications system. Michigan Tech continues to take a lead role in the Observatory. The MTU team led by Dr. Nitz & Dr. Kieckhafer (ECE) leads the design effort for the communications system for the northern Auger Observatory planned for Colorado. Dr. Nitz is also the scientific spokesperson for the northern Auger Observatory while Dr. Fick leads the search for exotic physics at the Observatory.
Related Links Auger Inauguration Photo Gallery
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