Observing The Cosmic Ray Moon Shadow With VERITAS

TL;DR

This paper reports on VERITAS observations of the Moon shadow in cosmic rays, demonstrating a method to measure cosmic ray composition and magnetic deflections using Cherenkov telescopes during lunar events.

Contribution

It introduces a novel observational technique with VERITAS for detecting the Moon shadow and measuring cosmic ray properties during lunar eclipses.

Findings

Detected the Moon shadow with VERITAS during the lunar eclipse.

Developed a new method for observing cosmic ray deficits near the Moon.

Established a technique for future cosmic ray composition measurements.

Abstract

The Earth is subjected to a uniform flux of very-high-energy (VHE, E > 100 GeV) cosmic rays unless they are obscured by an object, such as the Moon, in which case a deficit or shadow is created. Since cosmic rays are charged this deficit is deflected by the Earth's magnetic field, enabling the rigidity of the obstructed cosmic rays to be determined. Measurement of the relative deficits of different species enables the positron fraction and the antiproton ratio to be measured. The April 15, 2014 lunar eclipse was visible with the VERITAS Cherenkov telescopes, which allowed (with special UV bandpass filters) 74 minutes of direct observations of the Moon and the associated deficit in the cosmic-ray flux. The results of this observation are presented. In addition VERITAS has been conducting a series of observations by pointing close to a partially illuminated Moon, with a reduced photomultiplier tube high voltage and UV bandpass filters. We present the technique developed for these observations and their current status.