A method to detect ultra high energy electrons using earth's magnetic field as a radiatorIt is pointed out that the detection of electrons with energies exceeding a few TeV, which lose energy rapidly through synchrotron and inverse Compton processes, would provide valuable information on the distribution of sources and on the propagation of cosmic rays in the solar neighborhood. However, it would not be possible to measure the energy spectrum beyond a few TeV with any of the existing experimental techniques. The present investigation is, therefore concerned with the possibility of detecting electrons with energies exceeding a few TeV on the basis of the photons emitted through synchrotron radiation in the earth's magnetic field. Attention is given to the synchrotron radiation of electrons in the earth's magnetic field, detector response and energy estimation, and the characteristics of an ideal detector, capable of detecting photons with energies equal to or greater than 20 keV.
Document ID
19850040808
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Conference Paper
Authors
Stephens, S. A. (NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD; Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Bombay, India)
Balasubrahmanyan, V. K. (NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD, United States)