Detectors for Cosmic Rays on Ground and in Space

TL;DR

This paper reviews various ground-based, balloon-borne, and satellite detectors for cosmic rays, gamma rays, and neutrinos, highlighting their roles in uncovering the origins of cosmic rays and dark matter in the universe.

Contribution

It provides a comprehensive overview of current and upcoming cosmic-ray detectors, emphasizing their technological differences and scientific significance.

Findings

Detection of ultra-high-energy cosmic rays beyond GZK cutoff

Successful observations of neutrinos from supernovae

Detection of TeV gamma-rays from supernova remnants

Abstract

The origin of the cosmic rays has been a great mystery since they were discovered by Victor Hess in 1912. AGASA's observation of ultra-high-energy cosmic-rays (UHECR) possibly beyond the GZK (Greisen, Zatsepin and Kuzmin) cutoff stimulated the field in great deal. In addition, Kamiokande's detection of neutrinos from SN1987A and the H.E.S.S.'s detection of TeV gamma-rays from supernova remnants demonstrated the viability of neutrino and TeV gamma-ray astronomy for cosmic-ray research. A new generation of currently-operating or soon-to-be-operating detectors for charged particles, gamma-rays and neutrinos from cosmos will get us even closer to understanding the nature and origin of cosmic rays. Detectors for UHECRs, gamma rays and neutrinos are of particular importance in order to study the origins of cosmic rays since these particles are free from the deflection due to magnetic fields. Detectors for antiparticles and gamma rays would be useful to detect cosmic rays originated from the decay of the dark matter in the Universe. I will review these cosmic-ray detectors with particular attention on the differences of ground-based, balloon-borne and satellite-borne detectors.