The Fluorescence Camera of the POEMMA-Balloon with Radio (PBR): Design and scientific goals

• Published in: Nuclear instruments & methods in physics research. Section A, Accelerators, spectrometers, detectors and associated equipment Vol. 1068; p. 169727
• Main Authors: Battisti, Matteo, Eser, Johannes, Filippatos, George, Olinto, Angela, Osteria, Giuseppe, Parizot, Etienne
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier B.V 01.11.2024
• Subjects: Calibration; Fluorescence; MACROs; MAPMT; Sub-orbital experiment; Super Pressure Balloon (SPB); UHECRs; UHECRs; Sub-orbital experiment; MAPMT; Fluorescence; Super Pressure Balloon (SPB); Calibration; MACROs
• ISSN: 0168-9002
• DOI: 10.1016/j.nima.2024.169727

The POEMMA-Balloon with Radio (PBR) is a proposed payload to fly on a NASA Super Pressure Balloon (SPB). It will act as a pathfinder of the Probe Of Extreme Multi-Messenger Astrophysics (POEMMA) detector. PBR will consist of an innovative hybrid focal surface featuring a Fluorescence Camera (FC, based on Multi-Anode Photomultiplier Tubes [MAPMTs], 1.05μs time resolution) and a Cherenkov Camera (based on SiPMs, 10 ns time resolution), both mounted on the same tiltable frame that can point from nadir up to 13∘ above the horizon. The FC’s main scientific goal is to observe, for the first time, the fluorescence emission of Extensive Air Showers produced by Ultra-High Energy Cosmic Rays from sub-orbital altitudes. This measurement will validate the detection strategy for future space-based missions, such as POEMMA. As a secondary goal, the FC will perform a search for macroscopic dark matter through slowly evolving showers that will leave a signal similar to (but distinct from) a meteor. PBR targets a launch in 2027 as a payload of an ultra-long duration balloon flight with a duration of up to 100 days.