Gravitation, Cosmology, and Cosmic-Ray Physics (1986) / Chapter Skim
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18. Recommendations
18. Recommendations
Pages 157-164
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From page 157... ...
. A study of the isotopic and elemental composition of low-energy Galactic cosmic rays and solar energetic particles in the interplanetary medium." A1SO7 that report said, "The Astronomy Survey Committee recommends a series of cosmic-ray experiments in space, to promote the study of solar and stellar activity, the interstellar medium, the origin of the elements, and violent solar and cosmic processes." The report of the Cosmic-Ray Program Working Group (National Aeronautics and Space Administration, 1982)
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From page 158... ...
We would expect this cooperation to continue in the future, particularly with the development of the Superconducting Magnetic Spectrometer Facility. Major New Programs As our highest priority, we recommend the development of a Superconducting Magnetic Spectrometer Facility for the Space Station capable of conducting a wide variety of measurements on the energetic galactic particles above 1 GeV.
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From page 159... ...
The excellent momentum resolution of the magnet facility would make possible the measurement of energy spectra of cosmic-ray nuclei over a very wide energy region, from a few GeV/amu to several hundred GeV/amu with unprecedented resolution, making possible a sensitive search for spectral or temporal changes that could carry the signature of individual sources of cosmic rays. Also as a high priority we recommend an Explorer-class mission on a spacecraft outside the magnetosphere to carry high-resolution experiments to resolve the individual isotopes and elements of galactic cosmic rays, solar energetic particles, and anomalous cosmic rays in the energy region below 1 GeV/amu.
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From page 160... ...
This experiment will be capable of measuring actinide nuclei in the cosmic rays with high enough resolution and statistics to use these radioactive elements to measure the time scale since nucleosynthesis of the heavy cosmic rays. Interpretation of measurements of cosmic-ray composition depends critically on knowledge of partial cross sections for spallation of heavy nuclei in collision with the interstellar gas.
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From page 161... ...
We can identify three such devices whose feasibility should be studied: a high-energy array capable of measuring cosmic rays to 10'6 eV, a large electronic detector capable of detecting hundreds of the rarest actinide nuclei and determining their energy spectra, and a spaceborne down-looking detector capable of observing the atmospheric scintillation from air showers of the highest-energy cosmic rays. A study should be made of sending a new advanced set of instrumentation out of the heliosphere to measure a wide variety of interstellar parameters at distances of at least 100 AU.
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From page 162... ...
Gamma-Ray Astronomy The observation of gamma rays of energies above 10~' eV through ground-based observation of the Cerenkov light from air showers and direct detection of electrons from larger air showers provides the strongest evidence of discrete astronomical sources of acceleration processes extending beyond 10'5 eV. Careful measurement of the direction and time structure of such showers has revealed several such sources, and the promise of further significant discoveries is very high.
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From page 163... ...
The full-scale DUMAND detector would be more expensive than any single ground-based experiment discussed here, and there are serious enough questions concerning that proposal to reserve judgment concerning its construction pending results from the prototype. At the same time, the discoveries that would result from a serious look at neutrinos of 10~2 eV and above from astronomical sources would be exciting.
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From page 164... ...
· The study of muons underground, especially when coupled with surface air-shower arrays, in order to better understand primary composition in the 10'3-10'6 eV energy region. Solar Neutrinos This problem, addressed by astronomers and particle physicists as well, merits continued serious effort.
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