First results from the TUS orbital detector in the extensive air shower mode
- Lomonosov Moscow State University, GSP-1, Leninskie Gory, Moscow, 119991 (Russian Federation)
- Joint Institute for Nuclear Research, Joliot-Curie, 6, Dubna, Moscow region, Russia, 141980 (Russian Federation)
- Space Regatta Consortium, ul. Lenina, 4a, 141070 Korolev, Moscow region (Russian Federation)
- Department of Physics and ISTS, Sungkyunkwan University, Seobu-ro 2066, Suwon, \mbox440-746 (Korea, Republic of)
TUS (Tracking Ultraviolet Set-up), the first orbital detector of extreme energy cosmic rays (EECRs), those with energies above 50 EeV, was launched into orbit on April 28, 2016, as a part of the Lomonosov satellite scientific payload. The main aim of the mission is to test a technique of registering fluorescent and Cherenkov radiation of extensive air showers generated by EECRs in the atmosphere with a space telescope. We present preliminary results of its operation in a mode dedicated to registering extensive air showers in the period from August 16, 2016, to November 4, 2016. No EECRs have been conclusively identified in the data yet, but the diversity of ultraviolet emission in the atmosphere was found to be unexpectedly rich. We discuss typical examples of data obtained with TUS and their possible origin. The data is important for obtaining more accurate estimates of the nocturnal ultraviolet glow of the atmosphere, necessary for successful development of more advanced orbital EECR detectors including those of the KLYPVE (K-EUSO) and JEM-EUSO missions.
- OSTI ID:
- 22667702
- Journal Information:
- Journal of Cosmology and Astroparticle Physics, Journal Name: Journal of Cosmology and Astroparticle Physics Journal Issue: 09 Vol. 2017; ISSN 1475-7516
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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