Investigation of energy spectrum and chemical composition of primary cosmic rays in 1-100 PeV energy range with a UAV-borne installation

TL;DR

This paper proposes a UAV-based method for studying primary cosmic rays in the 1-100 PeV range by detecting reflected Cherenkov radiation from snow, aiming to analyze cosmic ray composition.

Contribution

It introduces a novel UAV-borne approach utilizing reflected Cherenkov light detection with silicon photomultipliers for cosmic ray analysis.

Findings

Development of a new UAV-based detection method

Potential for improved cosmic ray composition measurements

Use of silicon photomultipliers in high-altitude cosmic ray detection

Abstract

A new project is developed with the implementation of a relatively new method of studying the primary cosmic ray -- the registration of extensive air showers' optical Vavilov-Cherenkov radiation (Cherenkov light) reflected from the snow surface. The aim of the project is the study of the cosmic ray mass composition in the energy range of 1-100 PeV by detecting the reflected extensive air showers' Cherenkov light. Silicon photomultipliers are planned to be used as the main photosensitive element of the detector and an unmanned aerial vehicle will is planned to lift the measuring equipment over the snow-covered ground.