Researchers Develop High-Energy Ray Observatory to Study Cosmic Rays

Strategic Insights -

Researchers at the Institute for Nuclear Physics have created the High-Energy Ray Observatory (HERO) to measure the spectrum and composition of cosmic rays. The experiment aims to enable high-resolution, element-by-element measurements of cosmic ray spectra over a period of 5-7 years. The mission will operate in the energy range of 10^12 to 10^16 eV per particle. The researchers conducted a Monte Carlo simulation to examine the impact of boron additives in scintillator materials on energy resolution and the potential for discriminating between electromagnetic and hadronic components of cosmic rays.

Key Takeaways:

  • The High-Energy Ray Observatory (HERO) is a space-based experiment designed to measure the spectrum and composition of cosmic rays.
  • The instrument's effective geometric factor is at least 12 m^2 sr for protons and 16 m^2 sr or more for nuclei and electrons.
  • The mission will enable high-resolution, element-by-element measurements of cosmic ray spectra in the energy range of 10^12 to 10^16 eV per particle over a period of 5-7 years.
  • The researchers used the GEANT4 software package to conduct a Monte Carlo simulation of the calorimeter.
  • The study examined the impact of boron additives in scintillator materials on energy resolution and their potential for discriminating between electromagnetic and hadronic components of cosmic rays.
  • The results showed that boron does not degrade detector characteristics and enables an additional timing-based method for cosmic-ray component rejection.
  • The planned launch of the orbital experiment is scheduled for no earlier than 2029.
  • The research was conducted with financial support from the Committee of Science of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Republic of Kazakhstan.
  • The study includes the work of authors Orazaly Kalikulov, Nurzhan Saduyev, Yerzhan Mukhamejanov, Khussein Karatash, Ilyas Satyshev, Yeldos Sholtan, Aliya Baktoraz, and Anatoliy Pan.

Statistics:

  • The instrument's effective geometric factor is at least 12 m^2 sr for protons.
  • The instrument's effective geometric factor is 16 m^2 sr or more for nuclei and electrons.
  • The mission will operate in the energy range of 10^12 to 10^16 eV per particle.
  • The experiment will enable high-resolution, element-by-element measurements of cosmic ray spectra over a period of 5-7 years.
  • The study examined the impact of boron additives in scintillator materials on energy resolution.
  • The planned launch of the orbital experiment is scheduled for no earlier than 2029.

Sources:

  • Monte Carlo Simulation of the Hero Orbital Detector Calorimeter. Symmetry, 2025;17(9):1449.
  • NewsRx. Investigators at Institute for Nuclear Physics Report Findings in Mathematics (Monte Carlo Simulation of the Hero Orbital Detector Calorimeter). Mathematics Week. October 21, 2025; p 1363.