High Energy Cosmic Ray Observatory Research Articles

The HERO Project (High Energy Cosmic Ray Observatory): Objectives and Design Layout

The HERO Project (High Energy Cosmic Ray Observatory): Objectives and Design Layout

MOONRAY: A permanent high-energy cosmic-ray observatory on the surface of the Moon

The forthcoming decades will see a rapid development of space programs aiming at the implementation of habitats on our satellite. Therefore it makes sense to evaluate the feasibility of a permanent cosmic-ray (CR) observatory on the Moon. Its large sensitive area would allow to carry out a very rich observational program over a time span of a few decades with an unprecedented energy reach. A thorough exploration of the energy region around the CR spectral anomaly located at a few PeV, also known as the “knee”, will become possible.In this paper we propose an innovative concept of a modular lunar observatory designed to overcome the limitations of the present generation of cosmic-ray telescopes in Low Earth Orbit. It consists of an array of fully independent modules with limited individual size and weight. This would allow an ample flexibility in the gradual deployment of a progressively larger active volume, while ensuring the collection of meaningful scientific data during the intermediate stages of its implementation. Each independent module consists of three main instruments: a combined Charge and Time-of-Flight detector to identify individual elements from proton to nickel (and beyond), a tracker providing the direction and impact point of the incident particle, and a calorimeter to measure its kinetic energy. The design of each instrument contains innovative solutions that are well within the reach of the present technology.

New High-Energy Cosmic-Ray Observatory (HERO) project for studying the high-energy primary cosmic-ray radiation

Proposal on high-power supply High-Energy cosmic-Ray Observatory (HERO) is considered. It is proposed to carry out long-term (>7 years) studies of the spectrum and charge composition of PCR nuclei up to E 0 ∼ 10 16 eV , the energy spectra of electrons at E e = 10 11 – 10 13 eV and diffusive γ-rays at E γ 5 ⋅ 10 12 eV . The HERO instrument is characterized by a geometrical factor of 6.0 – 9.0 m 2 sr depending on particle type; mass of ∼ 2800 kg ; channel number of ∼ 8 ⋅ 10 5 ; power consumption of 16.5 kW. The device consists of (a) 3D image scintillator ionization calorimeter of 80-cm linear size, thickness of 22 X 0 and 2.5 λ i n t p with an absorber from lead and admixture of Gd 64 ; (b) multilayer silicon-microstrip track system; (c) multilayer silicon-pad charge detectors. Energy is measured by using (a) ionization and (b) neutron calorimetry techniques, (c) kinematics approach. The e ± / γ -initiated cascades are selected by using neutron-yield counting and cascade-shape analysis approaches.