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Space plasma physics: isotopic stack: measurement of heavy cosmic rays
Science (New York, N.Y.)
|July 13, 1984
Summary
Cosmic ray detectors on Spacelab 1 captured heavy cosmic ray data. Analysis of etched tracks revealed particle properties like charge, mass, and energy.
Area of Science:
- Space physics
- Particle astrophysics
Background:
- Investigating the composition and properties of cosmic rays is crucial for understanding astrophysical phenomena.
- Spacelab 1 provided a platform for in-situ measurements above Earth's atmosphere.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze heavy cosmic ray interactions using nuclear track detectors.
- To determine the charge, mass, energy, and trajectory of cosmic ray particles.
Main Methods:
- Exposure of a stacked nuclear track detector to heavy cosmic rays aboard Spacelab 1.
- Utilizing rotated detector layers to establish particle arrival times.
- Chemical etching to reveal latent particle tracks.
- Microscopic analysis of track geometry to deduce particle properties.
Main Results:
- Successful detection and analysis of heavy cosmic ray tracks.
- Demonstrated capability to determine particle charge, mass, energy, and impact direction.
- Data collected provides insights into the heavy cosmic ray spectrum.
Conclusions:
- Nuclear track detectors are effective tools for cosmic ray research in space.
- The Spacelab 1 mission successfully gathered valuable data on heavy cosmic rays.
- Further analysis of the collected data can enhance our understanding of cosmic ray origins and propagation.
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