The ISS-CREAM boronated scintillator detector

T. Anderson, D. Angelaszek, J. Baylon, M. Copley, S. Coutu, M. Gupta, J. H. Han, H. G. Huh, Y. S. Hwang, H. J. Hyun, H. J. Kim, K. C. Kim, K. Kwashnak, M. H. Lee, J. T. Link, L. Lutz, A. Malinin, A. Menchaca-Rocha, J. Mitchell, S. NutterO. Ofoha, J. M. Park, P. Patterson, E. S. Seo, J. Wu, Y. S. Yoon

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contributionpeer-review

4 Scopus citations

Abstract

The Boronated Scintillator Detector (BSD) is a new detector sub-system for the future Cosmic Ray Energetics and Mass for the International Space Station (ISS-CREAM) mission. It aims to complement the instrument’s tungsten calorimeter in identifying cosmic-ray electrons above 100 GeV. Such electrons are of significant scientific interest, but their identification is complicated by the overwhelmingly more abundant hadronic cosmic rays, hence making significant hadronic rejection power of paramount importance. Particle showers initiated by nuclei in the ISS-CREAM calorimeter have a profile different from an electron-induced electromagnetic cascade, and the hadron rejection power deriving from this difference can be significantly enhanced by making use of the thermal neutron activity at late (>400 ns) times relative to the start of the shower. Indeed hadron-induced showers tend to be accompanied by significantly more neutron activity than electromagnetic showers. The ISS-CREAM BSD endeavors to measure this late thermal neutron shower activity by detecting the boron capture of these thermal neutrons in a boron-loaded plastic scintillator, located underneath the calorimeter. Results from a 2012 test of this plastic scintillator in the CERN H2 beam line are discussed, and a comparison of these results is made with the performance predicted by a detailed GEANT4 simulation of the ISS-CREAM instrument.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationProceedings of the 33rd International Cosmic Rays Conference, ICRC 2013
PublisherSociedade Brasileira de Fisica
ISBN (Electronic)9788589064293
StatePublished - 2013
Event33rd International Cosmic Rays Conference, ICRC 2013 - Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Duration: 2 Jul 20139 Jul 2013

Publication series

NameProceedings of the 33rd International Cosmic Rays Conference, ICRC 2013
Volume2013-October

Conference

Conference33rd International Cosmic Rays Conference, ICRC 2013
Country/TerritoryBrazil
CityRio de Janeiro
Period2/07/139/07/13

Keywords

  • Cosmic rays
  • Electrons
  • International Space Station
  • Neutrons
  • Scintillator

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