LBHNC: A lunar-based heavy nucleus detector

A passive, large-area experiment for the detection of cosmic ray actinides on the lunar surface is discussed. Due to the absence of a geomagnetic cutoff, a 100 m{sup 2} array of nuclear-track-detecting glass plates in 5 years will detect {similar to}300--1000 U and Th cosmic ray nuclei of energies {...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inAIP Conference Proceedings (American Institute of Physics); (USA) Vol. 203:1
Main Authors Salamon, M.H., Price, P.B., Tarle, G.
Format Conference Proceeding
LanguageEnglish
Published United States 20.03.1990
Subjects
640101 - Astrophysics & Cosmology- Cosmic Radiation
ACTINIDES
CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSICS
COSMIC RAY DETECTION
DETECTION
ELEMENTS
HEAVY NUCLEI
LEAD
MEASURING INSTRUMENTS
MEASURING METHODS
METALS
MOON
NUCLEI
PLUTONIUM
RADIATION DETECTION
RADIATIONS
SATELLITES
SOLAR PARTICLES
SOLAR RADIATION
STELLAR RADIATION
THORIUM
TRANSURANIUM ELEMENTS
URANIUM
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Summary:A passive, large-area experiment for the detection of cosmic ray actinides on the lunar surface is discussed. Due to the absence of a geomagnetic cutoff, a 100 m{sup 2} array of nuclear-track-detecting glass plates in 5 years will detect {similar to}300--1000 U and Th cosmic ray nuclei of energies {gt}0.85 GeV/u (compared to the present world's total of 4 actinides). With a charge resolution at uranium of {similar to}0.25e, the U/Th ratio can be accurately determined, thereby dating the r-process component of the cosmic rays; the presence of a fresh r-process component would be corroborated by the likely detection of transuranics as well. In addition, abundances in the Pt/Pb and sub-Pt/Pb regions and abundances of secondary actinides would provide detailed data on the 0--1 g/cm{sup 2} region of the cosmic ray path length distribution, hence on the astrophysical site of origin of these cosmic rays. Finally, should a fresh r-process component exist, the dection of postulated suerheavy nuclei is conceivable. With an analysis station at the Lunar Base, glass plates could periodically be harvested, analyzed, annealed/remelted, and replaced onto the lunar surface.
Bibliography:CONF-8911161-
ISSN:0094-243X
1551-7616