Scientific research with NUCLEON SSC in outer
space have the following objectives:
- The
verification of astrophysical models of birth, acceleration and spread of high
energy cosmic rays in the Galaxy by determining its energy spectrum and
chemical composition in an extremely wide energy range 1011-1015
eV/particle.
- The
structure study of the different chemical elements types of cosmic rays in the
range of Z = 1 ÷ 30. Among other things the dependence study of different
chemical elements types from the first ionization potential and volatility parameter
is an extremely urgent task which could explain the many long-standing problems
of the CR origin.
Moreover, the obtaining of ratio between
secondary and primary nucleus at high energies is an extremely urgent task too.
It can answer many questions like: how to move between the observed CR flux and
spectrum in the sources? And does it exist the CR finish accelerating during the
CR spread to the Earth? Also it can specify the information about the Halo
Galactic structure and the presence of large-scale turbulence, the galactic
wind, etc.
- The
measurement of the energy spectrum of electrons in a part of CR at high
energies (Ee above ~ 1 TeV) is extremely important, particularly to
search for close source of high-energy particles. Moreover, these measurements
will allow to assess the search prospects for dark matter particles in the CR by
product of their annihilation. The particular challenge for the NUCLEON SSC to
achieve these goals is the permanent measurement in the mode of monitoring
parameters and values of the electromagnetic and nuclear radiation:
the charge of CR particles (nucleus and electrons), their energy, as well as
the liberation of CR electrons from the flux of nucleus (protons and others). The
measurement must be conducted for at least 5 years SAS SC "Resurs-P» №2.
To achieve these goals NUCLEON SSC should
provide:
- registration
of high energy cosmic rays in the energy range from 1011 to 1015
eV and in the range of charges Z = 1-30, the effective geometrical factor at
least 0.20 m2sr, for all kinds of CR particles. The total power
consumption of NUCLEON SSC is no more than 160 W.
- the
element resolution of cosmic ray nucleus with Z = 1 ÷ 30, the average error in
the charge measurement should be no more than 0.3 units of charge.
- highlight
events for CR particles registration with a first inelastic nuclear interaction
in the target material. There should be a possibility to change the energy
threshold of primary particles registration in the SSC trigger system. The time
of trigger signal generating to read the information from SSC sensors must not
exceed 1 ms.
- to
perform the measurement of CR nuclear energy (including protons) with an
average accuracy of no more than 80% for individual events within a given range
of CR nucleus.
- to
allocate the electromagnetic component (electrons, positrons, gamma rays) from
CR in the aperture of at least 0.05 m2sr. The level of CR nucleus
rejection in the MIC should be at least 10-3. Average energy
measurement error should not exceed 15% for individual event of e-m components.
The advantage of NUCLEON experiment in
comparison with other experiments
Despite
the low weight of the device, such an experiment has a number of advantages
over the other projects using small calorimeters.
At
the moment the total planned factor Of NUCLEON experimental exposition exceeds
the available experiments by almost 10 times.
Proportion
research of secondary to primary nucleus in space has a principal advantage
over the balloon experiments, where the
residual atmosphere is about 6 g
/ sm2. It exceeds the thickness of matter traversed by nucleus in
Galaxy with energy of about 1 TeV in ten times.
Since
the device almost has not a heavy material, the expected reverse current,
distorting the charge resolution is orders of magnitude smaller than in other
small calorimeters. And we can expect a precise measurement of the delicate
structure of GCR chemical composition.
The
device enables monitoring of charged particles with energies of 1 TeV in
conditions without distorting effect of the atmosphere.