In Search of the Origin of the Highest Energy Cosmic Rays

The origin of the highest energy cosmic rays is a long-standing problem in astrophysics. We know such particles exist, but their rarity has hampered the discovery of their sources. A new international collaboration is constructing the Pierre Auger Observatory in Argentina. With a collecting area of 3000 km2, this detector will collect data at a rate ten-times larger than any previous experiment. An introduction outlining the astrophysical problem of the high energy cosmic rays will be followed by a description of the unique Auger Observatory.