Observing Ultra High Energy Cosmic Particles from Space: SEUSO, the Super Extreme Universe Space Observatory Mission

TL;DR

SEUSO is a proposed space-based observatory designed to detect ultra high energy cosmic particles, aiming to identify their sources, measure their spectra, and explore fundamental physics at energies beyond 10^19 eV.

Contribution

This paper introduces the SEUSO mission concept, detailing its scientific goals, observational approach, instrument design, and expected performance for ultra high energy cosmic ray detection.

Findings

SEUSO can significantly increase exposure to ultra high energy cosmic particles.

The mission aims to identify sources and spectra of ultra high energy particles.

Expected to explore physics beyond current energy spectrum limits.

Abstract

The experimental search for ultra high energy cosmic messengers, from $E\sim 10^{19}$ eV to beyond $E\sim 10^{20}$ 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 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, after briefly summarising the science case of the mission, we describe the scientific goals and requirements of the SEUSO concept. We then introduce the SEUSO observational approach and describe the main instrument and mission features. We conclude discussing the expected performance of the mission.