2018 Fiscal Year Annual Research Report
Next generation detectors for study from balloon and space of terrestrial and cosmic UV signals
| Project/Area Number |
17H02905
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| Research Institution | Institute of Physical and Chemical Research |
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Principal Investigator |
CASOLINO MARCO 国立研究開発法人理化学研究所, 開拓研究本部, 研究員 (10598163)
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| Project Period (FY) |
2017-04-01 – 2020-03-31
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| Keywords | 国際宇宙ステーション / 超高エネルギー宇宙線 / Earth Observation / Strange quark matter |
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| Outline of Annual Research Achievements |
Work has involved the realization of the Engineering and Flight models of MINI-EUSO. The space qualification procedures of the EM has included space qualification tests. After qualification and first phase of acceptance tests, the EM has been completed and shipped to Moscow to complete the acceptance test procedures.
Lens system of Mini-EUSO has also been completed. Both the engineering model and the flight model Fresnel-based optical systems have been constructed and calibrated in Riken. After the first measurement, the throughput was found to be much lower than expected. We found that relatve large surface roughness caused the inefficiency. The efficiency was improved after polishment.
It is impotant understand the behavier of the MINI-EUSO readout system also on ground in parallel with the MINI-EUSO flight. The developed technology for MINI-EUSO was exported to the telescope of the EUSO-TA experiment. The focal surface and readout system for the telescope of EUSO-TA experiment has been refurbished and upgraded. The upgrade of EUSO-TA has included the readout, High voltage and ASIC boards to read both fast (Ultra-High Energy cosmic rays) and slower (meteors, search for Strange Quark mat ter...) signals. Also the readout board developed for MINI-EUSO has been integrated with the readout system of EUSO-TA.
A corrector lens of the second SPB mission was manufactured and measured its surface roughness by using a mobile AFM (Atomic Force Microscope). Roughnes results are about 20nm RMS which are satisfied the optics requirement.
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| Current Status of Research Progress |
Current Status of Research Progress
2: Research has progressed on the whole more than it was originally planned.
Reason
Progress has been roughly according to schedule. Manufacturing and performance test were succesafully finiahed. All the components of the telescope have been shipped to Italy and then will be shipped to Russia. They have been assembled and now under final qualification tests like acceptance test.The launch of MINI-EUSO has been finalized to 2019, with a few months delay from the expected launch in 2018. The delay has been caused by the development of agreement between Russian and Italian Space Agencies to perform the experiment during the Italian mission of Luca Parmitano on board the International Space Station.
Likewise, the integration of the focal surface of EUSO-TA has required a few months more that expected in order to have a more uniform response form the focal surface.
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| Strategy for Future Research Activity |
This fiscal year will see the launch of the MINI-EUSO detector on board the International Space Station (ISS). The launch is currently scheduled with the Russian capsule Progress 73P in Summer 2019. The new schedule has been agreed between Russian and Italian Space Agencies to perform data taking in the framework of the Italian mission of Luca Parmitano on the ISS. Acceptance test procedures are foreseen in Moscow in April for the Engineering model and June-July for the flight model. These will be followed by an integration campaign in Baikonur cosmodrome, in Kazakhstan to accommodate the instrument inside the Progress capsule.
The lenses of the Flight Model focal surface have been completed and tested in Riken; acquisition software has been improved to increase the data taking and storing capabilities.
After launch of MINI-EUSO, data taking will begin.
In parallel it is expected that the refurbished Focal surface will be installed in Utah, black rock mesa telescope site, on Autumn 2019.
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Research Products
(4 results)
