Cosmic Rays Cooperation at the Space Pole D. Sapundjiev, T. Verhulst, M. Dierckxsens, E. De Donder, N. Crosby, K. Stegen, and S. Stankov Excellence (STCE) Ringlaan 3, B-1180 Brussels, Belgium Stan Stankov STCE Annual Meeting, 7 June 2018, Brussels 1
Outline Cooperation achievements and opportunities Difficulties associated with such cooperation and how to tackle them How to get (better) organised to help STCE fulfill its mission How STCE can help us to achieve better results A discussion in relation to: Operational IT infrastructure Hardware and technical laboratories Services Educational and training activities 2
Importance of monitoring the cosmic rays Note: The presentation is about the galactic as well as the solar cosmic rays (well known differences between both types: transient <-> continuous, energy spectra, instrumentation) Aviation - long-time exposure of pilots and cabin crew, esp. on trans-polar routes, increases the possibility of adverse effects of the cosmic radiation - short-time increased radiation during strong SEP (solar energetic particles) events can have adverse effects on passengers and avionics - polar cap absorption events (due to SEPs) affect HF (high frequency) radio communications in the polar regions Space - adverse effects of the cosmic radiation on astronauts - potential for damages on spacecraft and equipment 3
Research & Development Activities @ ROB Given the solar modulation of the cosmic ray intensity, the role of the ROB solar observations is very important when developing STCE services Solar flare observations and CME (Coronal Mass Ejection) detection - important for SEP (Solar Energetic Particles) monitoring Long-term solar modulation of the cosmic ray intensity (as measured with the neutron monitor at Dourbes) Solar activity Cosmic ray activity Sapundjiev et al. 2012, Cosmic ray intensity measurements at the RMI Geophysical Dourbes. Proc. ESWW, 5-9 Nov 2012, Brussels, Belgium 4
Research & Development Activities @ BISA 5
Research & Development Activities @ BISA 6
Research & Development Activities @ RMI Neutron Monitor Despite their decades of tradition, ground based neutron monitors (NM) remain the stateof-the-art instrumentation for measuring cosmic rays, and they play a key role as a research tool in the field of space physics, solar-terrestrial relations, and space weather applications. They are sensitive to cosmic rays penetrating the Earth's atmosphere with energies from about 0.5-20 GeV, i.e. in an energy range that cannot be measured with detectors in space in the same simple, inexpensive, and statistically accurate way. Two types of standardized detectors (IGY, NM64) are in operation in a worldwide network that presently consists of about 50 stations. In order to increase the number of particles that are eventually detected, the neutron monitor counters are surrounded by lead. There the secondary nucleons (and a few muons), produce further neutrons. The neutron monitor counts these neutrons, but they ultimately reveal the cosmic ray flux at the top of the atmosphere. Fig. NM64 neutron monitor with three counter tubes (right, wood casing of reflector and counter tubes are visible) and rack (left) with counter electronics, high-voltage power supplies, and barometer. NMDB 7
Research & Development Activities @ RMI http://neutronmonitor.meteo.be/ Sapundjiev et al. 2014, Data reduction and correction algorithm for digital real-time processing of cosmic ray measurements. Adv. Space Res., 53(1), 71-76 8
Research & Development Activities @ RMI Development of a real-time alert service based on groundbased cosmic ray observations Approach: Statistical analysis of past events Basic principles based on the present solar- and interplanetary plasma physics models and MHD transport Algorithm: Data and data mining... - real time data (ground-based measurements, e.g. Dourbes) - quasi real-time (satellite monitoring of the Sun and solar wind) Real-time rigidity spectrum calculation Data analysis software artificial intelligence, fuzzy logic,... Alert: Real-time implementation and publication 9
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Credit: Dr. Ch. Steigies, NMDB / University of Kiel, Germany 11
ESA Space Situational Awareness (SSA) Space Weather (SWE) segment? PECASUS (Pan-European Consortium for Aviation Space Weather User Services) 12
Missed opportunities Institutes not properly involved in the NMDB project until only after STCE was formed Consequence/s: Institutes missed on substantial external (EU FP7) funding Recommendation/s: Be proactive: in project acquisition as well as leading vital project tasks (project management, database development and maintenance, etc.) Cosmic Rays not included as a separate topic in the original STCE plan Consequences: limited communication between the groups, no coordination and planning limited funding for research personnel, instruments, and services at each institute Recommendation/s: Create a separate WP at STCE, with personnel from all 3 institutes, proper coordination and funding (note: having a dedicated team working together will create more opportunities for external funding via international projects) 13
Difficulties Operational IT infrastructure (cf. Services): Instruments and measurement data distributed between the 3 institutes at the Space Pole, in several cases internationally: Hardware and technical laboratories: Instruments and maintenance at each institute limited budgets, lower priority Shortage of qualified technicians Services: (cf. Operational IT infrastructure) Each institute operates own services Educational and training activities: Remoteness of the RMI Geophysical Centre 14
Suggestions for improvements Coordinate, develop a centralised IT infrastructure to facilitate STCE services operation and dissemination of results Coordinate: develop centralised STCE services, an example to follow: SSCC (SSA SW Coordination Centre) Upgrade existing instruments (e.g. the neutron monitor in Dourbes) Invest in new instruments (e.g. a muon telescope in Dourbes / Uccle) Create an STCE WP Cosmic Rays with its own objectives, personnel, and funding Share resources: technical personnel (and expertise), facilities, databases, projects, funding, etc. Use modern media tools for STCE seminars, demonstrations, and PR 15