Cosmic ray composition near the knee: the TRACER project and prospects for future developments
Abstract
Precise measurements of the elemental composition of cosmic rays up to energies around the spectral knee above 10E15 eV are of critical importance for the understanding of the acceleration and galactic confinement of cosmic rays. Such measurements require detectors with very large exposure factors above the atmosphere, as may be achieved with transition radiation detectors for the nuclei heavier than protons and helium. We shall describe the TRACER instrument ("Transition Radiation Array for Cosmic Energetic Radiation") that has been developed for measurements in circumpolar, long-duration balloon flights. We shall discuss the performance of TRACER, based on accelerator calibrations and on a one-day test flight on balloon, and we shall report on the planned long-duration flights. Finally, we will review the potential of the transition radiation technique for the development of future LDB and ULDB payloads.
- Publication:
-
34th COSPAR Scientific Assembly
- Pub Date:
- 2002
- Bibcode:
- 2002cosp...34E1436M