2009/06/30 by Andrea Santangelo, A. Santangelo, A. Petrolini +1
Physics and Astronomy · #Astronomy #Astrophysics #Astrophysics and Cosmic Phenomena #COSMIC cancer database #Cosmic ray #Dark Matter and Cosmic Phenomena #Energy spectrum #Galaxy #Infrared #Intergalactic travel #Observatory #Physics #Radio Astronomy Observations and Technology #Redshift #Space (punctuation) #Space observatory #Ultra-high-energy cosmic ray #Universe #astro-ph.HE #astro-ph.IM
paper · pdf · doi:10.1088/1367-2630/11/6/065010
openalex publication_date 2009/06/30 · arxiv created 2009/09/29 · arxiv updated 2015/05/14 · openalex created_date 2016/06/24 · openalex updated_date 2026/08/05
The experimental search for ultra-high-energy cosmic messengers, from E∼10 19 eV to beyond E∼10 20 eV, at the very end of the known energy spectrum, constitutes an extraordinary opportunity to explore a largely unknown aspect of our universe. Key scientific goals are the identification of the sources of ultra-high-energy particles, the measurement of their spectra and the study of galactic and local intergalactic magnetic fields. Ultra-high-energy particles might, also, carry evidence of unknown physics or of exotic particles that are relics of the early universe. To meet this challenge a significant increase in the integrated exposure is required. This implies a new class of experiments with larger acceptances and good understanding of the systematic uncertainties. Space-based observatories can reach the instantaneous aperture and the integrated exposure necessary to systematically explore the ultra high-energy universe. In this paper, we focus on the Super Extreme Universe Space Observatory ( - EUSO ), a mission concept developed in the framework of the first Announcement of Opportunity of the 'Cosmic Vision 2015–2025' program, the long-term science plan of the European Space Agency. - EUSO will observe from space, in a free flyer configuration, the extensive air showers produced by ultra-high-energy primaries that traverse the Earth atmosphere. From a variable altitude orbit of 800–1100 km, - EUSO will have an instantaneous geometrical aperture of A geo ⩾2 × 10 6 km 2 sr with an estimated duty cycle in the range 10–20%. In this paper, after briefly summarizing the science case of the mission, we describe the scientific goals and requirements of the - EUSO concept. We then introduce the - EUSO observational approach and describe the main instrument and mission features. We conclude by discussing the expected performance of the mission.