Terzina on board NUSES: a pathfinder for EAS Cherenkov Light Detection from space

TL;DR

The paper introduces the Terzina telescope on the NUSES mission, designed to detect ultra-high-energy cosmic rays via Cherenkov light from air showers, serving as a pathfinder for future space-based UHECR and neutrino detection missions.

Contribution

It presents the design, simulation, and performance estimates of the Terzina telescope as a novel space-based instrument for UHECR detection, paving the way for future missions.

Findings

Terzina can detect Cherenkov light from EAS with specific angular alignment.

Simulation results estimate detection capabilities and background rates.

The telescope design is suitable for future UHECR and neutrino space missions.

Abstract

In this paper we introduce the Terzina telescope as a part of the NUSES space mission. This telescope aims to detect Ultra High Energy Cosmic Rays (UHECRs) through the Cherenkov light emission from the extensive air showers (EAS) that they create in the Earth's atmosphere. The Cherenkov photons are aligned along the shower axis inside about $\sim 0.2-1^{\circ}$, so that they become detectable by Terzina when it points towards the Earth's limb. A sun-synchronous orbit will allow the telescope to observe only the night side of the Earth's atmosphere. In this contribution, we focus on the description of the telescope detection goals, geometry, optical design and its photon detection camera composed of Silicon Photo-Multipliers (SiPMs). Moreover, we describe the full Monte Carlo simulation chain developed to estimate Terzina's performance for UHECR detection. The estimate of the radiation damage and light background rates, the readout electronics and trigger logic are briefly described. Terzina will be able to study the potential for future physics missions devoted to UHECR detection and to UHE neutrino astronomy. It is a pathfinder for missions like POEMMA or future constellations of similar satellites to NUSES.