Abstract
Galactic cosmic rays and solar energetic particles (SEPs) with energies larger than 100 MeV/n are able to penetrate and charge the test masses of the LISA experiment. As this process constitutes one of the major sources of noise for the experiment, a small telescope of silicon detectors will be located on board the LISA PathFinder and, possibly, the three LISA spacecraft. This device will allow us to monitor real-time galactic and solar cosmic-ray incident proton fluxes above 100 MeV. Moreover, spectral information will be provided up to an energy of 500 MeV. We propose to use the above instrument for the evaluation of the test mass charging process and the study of SEPs accelerated by coronal mass ejection (CME) propagation. Because of the peculiar orbit of the LISA spacecraft around the Sun, this experiment offers a unique chance to monitor an evolving CME contemporary at 2° (among spacecraft) and 20° (between LISA and Earth) intervals in longitude at once. These observations are of particular interest for both solar physics and space weather investigations. SEP event occurrence is not predictable and these events are particularly dangerous to astronauts and space equipment.
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