Prospects for discovery of physics beyond the Standard Model at the Pierre Auger Observatory

Abstract

I summarize the discovery potential for physics beyond the electroweak scale at the Pierre Auger Observatory. This observatory is designed to study ultra-high energy cosmic rays with unprecedented precision, with the primary goal of shedding light on their composition and origins. In addition, since the center-of-mass energies of Auger events are well beyond those reached at terrestrial colliders, they provide an opportunity to search for new physics. I discuss here some of the relevant observables and techniques which may be used to weed out theories beyond the standard model.

Comments: (v1) Talk given at the SUGRA 20 Meeting, Boston 2003. http://www.sugra20.neu.edu To be published in the Conference Proceedings. (v2) References added