Satellite-borne silicon semiconductor detector telescopes for observation of relativistic heavy primary cosmic rays

Abstract

It is considered that the observation of the chemical composition of relativistic heavy primary cosmic rays yields important information on the origin and propagation mechanism of cosmic rays. Satellite-borne silicon semiconductor detector telescopes composed of six identical surface-barrier type detectors were made to observe the charge spectrum of relativistic heavy primary cosmic rays from carbon to nickel with a high accuracy. The minimum pulse selection method is applied to detector telescopes in order to increase the resolving power of identification of the nuclear charge of relativistic heavy primary cosmic ray nuclei. The charge resolution of relativistic heavy primary cosmic rays estimated based on the minimum pulse selection method is shown and compared with one of the other cosmic ray detectors. The silicon semiconductor detector telescope, detection and electronics system and data processing are described in detail. The instrument will be put aboard the Japanese cosmic radiation satellite CORSA scheduled for launch in February 1976.