Measurement of UV light emission of the nighttime Earth by Mini-EUSO for space-based UHECR observations
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Date
2022-03-18
Publication Type
Conference Paper
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yes
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Abstract
The JEM-EUSO (Joint Experiment Missions for Extreme Universe Space Observatory) program aims at the realization of the ultra-high energy cosmic ray (UHECR) observation using wide field of view fluorescence detectors in orbit. Ultra-violet (UV) light emission from the atmosphere such as airglow and anthropogenic light on the Earth’s surface are the main background for the space-based UHECR observations. The Mini-EUSO mission has been operated on the International Space Station (ISS) since 2019 which is the first space-based experiment for the program. The Mini-EUSO instrument consists of a 25 cm refractive optics and the photo-detector module with the 2304-pixel array of the multi-anode photomultiplier tubes. On the nadir-looking window of the ISS, the instrument is capable of continuously monitoring a ∼300 km × 300 km area. In the present work, we report the preliminary result of the measurement of the UV light in the nighttime Earth using the Mini-EUSO data downlinked to the ground. We mapped UV light distribution both locally and globally below the ISS obit. Simulations were also made to characterize the instrument response to diffuse background light. We discuss the impact of such light on space-based UHECR observations and the Mini-EUSO science objectives.
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Publication status
published
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Book title
Proceedings of 37th International Cosmic Ray Conference
Journal / series
Volume
395 (385)
Pages / Article No.
Publisher
Sissa Medialab
Event
37th International Cosmic Ray Conference (ICRC 2021)
Edition / version
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Software
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Date collected
Date created
Subject
Cosmic rays; Earth atmosphere; Fluorescence; Orbits; Photomultipliers; Space stations
Organisational unit
02717 - Institut für Atmosphäre und Klima / Inst. Atmospheric and Climate Science