A. Turundaevskiy

Separation of the electron component by the shower shape in an ionization calorimeter for the NUCLEON experiment

An ionization calorimeter introduced in the composition of the NUCLEON research equipment is described. The possibility of employing it to study the spectrum of the electromagnetic charged component of cosmic rays in the energy range of 100–2000 GeV is discussed on the basis of data from a simulation.

The NUCLEON experiment: The current status

The main purpose of the NUCLEON experiment is direct measurements of the energy spectra of cosmic rays in the range 1011–1015 eV with the use of the lightweight facility during a prolonged orbital flight. The energy is determined using a technique based on the measurement of the spatial density of secondary particles produced in the initial event of inelastic interaction. The schematic diagram of the NUCLEON facility, the current status of the project, the results of testing the prototype, and plans are presented.

New Universal Cosmic-Ray Knee near a Magnetic Rigidity of 10 TV with the NUCLEON Space Observatory

Data from the NUCLEON space observatory give a strong indication of the existence of a new universal cosmic ray “knee”, which is observed in all groups of nuclei, including heavy nuclei, near a magnetic rigidity of about 10 TV. Universality means the same position of the knee in the magnetic rigidity scale for all groups of nuclei. The knee is observed by both methods of measurement of particles energy implemented in the NUCLEON observatory—the calorimetric method and the kinematic method Kinematic Lightweight Energy Meter. This new cosmic ray knee is probably connected with the limit of acceleration of cosmic rays by some generic or nearby source of cosmic rays.

Primary and secondary cosmic rays in the NUCLEON space experiment after two years of data acquisition

The NUCLEON space experiment was designed to measure energy spectra of cosmic ray nuclei from protons to iron in the energy range approximately from 1 TeV per particle to 1 PeV per particle with good individual charge resolution. The apparatus started the collection of data at the beginning of 2015 and it is in operation up to now. The duration of the mission is expected to be no less than five years. One of the main feature of the experiment is an implementation of two different methods of energy measurement on board of the apparatus -- the calorimetric method and the new kinematic KLEM method (Kinematic Lightweight Energy Meter). The data obtained after two years of operation are presented. A multiple signs of complex behavior of the nuclei spectra and the ratios of spectra violating of a simple universal power-law behavior of the spectra will be presented in the report.

Measuring the isotopic composition of superheavy nuclei of galactic cosmic rays in the NUCLEON-2 experiment

A brief survey of the data on the isotopic composition of superheavy nuclei in galactic cosmic rays is presented. The scientific goals of the planned experiment are outlined, and the design of the NUCLEON-2 scientific equipment is given.