Cosmic Ray-Air Shower Measurement from Space
Cosmic Ray-Air Shower Measurement from Space

Author: National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)

Publisher: Createspace Independent Publishing Platform

Published: 2018-08-17

Total Pages: 26

ISBN-13: 9781725623118

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A feasibility study has been initiated to observe from space the highest energy cosmic rays above 1021 eV. A satellite observatory concept, the Maximum-energy Auger (Air)-Shower Satellite (MASS), is recently renamed as the Orbital Wide-angle Collector (OWL) by taking its unique feature of using a very wide field-of-view (FOV) optics. A huge array of imaging devices (about 10(exp 6) pixels) is required to detect and record fluorescent light profiles of cosmic ray cascades in the atmosphere. The FOV of MASS could extend to as large as about 60 in. diameter, which views (500 - 1000 km) of earth's surface and more than 300 - 1000 cosmic ray events per year could be observed above 1020 eV. From far above the atmosphere, the MASS/OWL satellite should be capable of observing events at all angles including near horizontal tracks, and would have considerable aperture for high energy photon and neutrino observation. With a large aperture and the spatial and temporal resolution, MASS could determine the energy spectrum, the mass composition, and arrival anisotropy of cosmic rays from 1020 eV to 1022 eV; a region hitherto not explored by ground-based detectors such as the Fly's Eye and air-shower arrays. MASS/OWL's ability to identify cosmic neutrinos and gamma rays may help providing evidence for the theory which attributes the above cut-off cosmic ray flux to the decay of topological defects. Very wide FOV optics system of MASS/OWL with a large array of imaging devices is applicable to observe other atmospheric phenomena including upper atmospheric lightning. The wide FOV MASS optics being developed can also improve ground-based gamma-ray observatories by allowing simultaneous observation of many gamma ray sources located at different constellations. Takahashi, Yoshiyuki Marshall Space Flight Center NASA-CR-204041, NAS 1.26:204041 NAS8-38609; NCC8-65...

Cosmic Radiation
Cosmic Radiation

Author: COSPAR. Scientific Assembly

Publisher: Pergamon

Published: 1997

Total Pages: 150

ISBN-13:

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This publication brings together two groups of papers under two headings. The first group of papers are under the heading 'Energetic Spectra and Charge Composition of Galactic Cosmic Rays above 10 eV: Implications for the Origin and Acceleration limit of Galactic Cosmic Rays'. This session contains 4 papers on the 'knee' region of the cosmic ray spectrum near 1PeV energies. The session has some discussion of proposed instruments to investigate this region and other theoretical papers which investigate the generation and transport of these particles in our galaxy. The second group of papers are under the heading 'Cosmic Ray Composition Studies at Solar Minimum'. This session contains 18 papers providing results relating to experiments flown during the latest solar minimum. Areas covered include new Observations of Galactic Cosmic Rays (GCRs), new Ulysses measurements of GCR spectra outside the ecliptic plane, several theoretical studies, new observations of Anomalous Cosmic Ray (ACR) from two spacecraft, and description of an alternative approach to simulation of ACR transport in the heliosphere.

Frontiers in Cosmic Ray Research
Frontiers in Cosmic Ray Research

Author: Igor N. Martsch

Publisher: Nova Publishers

Published: 2007

Total Pages: 278

ISBN-13:

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Without qualification, cosmic rays usually mean the primary cosmic rays of extra-terrestrial origin that continually bombard the earth and consist mostly of high-energy protons, about 9 percent helium and heavier nuclei, a small percentage of electrons, and some gamma rays. The energies of cosmic rays are well in excess of billions of electron volts. Secondary cosmic rays result from interactions between primary rays and atoms in the earth's atmosphere. Most cosmic rays probably originate from the Milky Way galaxy, but a small fraction come from the sun as evidenced by diurnal variations in the cosmic ray flux. This volume presents new research on cosmic rays.