02-2-1125-2015/2020
 
Priority: 1
   
Status: Being concluded


Astrophysical Studies in the TAIGA Experiment
  

Leader:     L.G. Tkachev
Deputies:     V.M. Grebenyuk
A.V. Borodin

Participating countries and international organizations:
Czech Republic, Germany, Japan, Italy, Mexico, Republic of Korea, Romania, Russia.

Issues addressed and main goals of research:
  • The main topics of multi-messenger TAIGA array are gamma-ray astronomy, charged cosmic ray physics\\ and particle physics. Gamma-ray astronomy: one of the most intriguing problems in high-energy astroparticle physics is a search for galactic objects for accelerating of particles up to PeV energies (the so-called Pevatrons); VHE spectra of the known sources: where do they stop; absorption in IR and CMB; diffuse emission from the galactic plane and the local supercluster.Charged cosmic ray physics: the energy spectrum and mass composition measurements from 10 14 to 10 18 eV. Particle physics: axion/photon conversion; hidden photon/photon oscillations; Lorentz invariance violation; pp cross-section measurement; search for quark-gluon plasma phenomena.

  • The TUS space experiment was proposed to measure the energy spectrum, composition and angular distribution of the Ultra High Energy Cosmic Rays (UHECR) at  10 19-10 20 eV and study the region beyond the GZK cutoff. Existence of these particles is beyond the Standard Model of particle physics and is of great interest. The study from the orbit is much more effective in comparison with the study using ground-based detectors. The existing world statistics is assumed to be increased by a factor of 2 during 3 years of the global data taking with the TUS.

  • The aim of the NUCLEON Project is direct CR measurements in the energy range 10 11-10 15 eV and the atomic charge range up to Z30 in the near-Earth space to solve mainly the "knee" problem in the CR spectrum. The CR phenomena in this energy region are investigated in terrestrial experiments by measurement of EAS parameters or in balloon or space experiments. Below ~ 10 14 eV the CR spectrum and composition are known from direct observations with detectors placed in balloons and earth satellites. However, at higher energies the CR flux is smaller and more difficult for direct observation. Precise measurement of the CR composition and anisotropy will help to test the existing theoretical concepts and will become a basis for further studies.
Expected results in the current year:
  • Design and production of the third IACT for the TAIGA experiment.

  • Participation in the of TAIGA experiment data taking.

  • Participation in the MC simulation of the TAIGA experiment and data analysis.

  • Participation in the TUS data analysis.

  • Participation in the NUCLEON data analysis.
List of projects:
  Project Leader Priority
(period of realisation)
1. TAIGA L.G. Tkatchev 1   (2015-2020)

List of Activities
  Activity or Experiment Leaders
Status
      Laboratory or other
    Division of JINR
Responsible person
Main researchers
1. Experiment TAIGA L.G. Tkachev
Realization
  DLNP A.N. Borodin, A.N. Demenko, M. Finger, V.M. Grebenyuk, F.F. Grinyuk, M.V. Lavrova, U. Nurtaeva, A. Pan, V.M. Romanov, S.Yu. Porokhovoy, M. Slunechka, V. Slunechkova, B.M. Sabirov, Y.I. Sagan
  VBLHEP N.V. Gorbunov
  LIT V.N. Shigaev
2. Experiment TUS L.G. Tkachev
Realization
  DLNP V.M. Grebenyuk, F.F. Grinyuk, A.I. Kalinin, M.V. Lavrova, U. Nurtaeva, A.V. Tkachenko, M. Slunechka, V. Slunechkova
  VBLHEP N.V. Gorbunov
3. Experiment NUCLEON L.G. Tkachev
Realization
  DLNP A.N. Borodin, V.M. Grebenyuk, M.V. Lavrova, U. Nurtaeva, N.I. Kalinin, B.M. Sabirov, A.B.
Sadovsky, I. Satyshev, S.Yu. Porokhovoy, A.V. Tkachenko
  VBLHEP N.V. Gorbunov
  LIT V.N. Shigaev, S.K. Slepnev
  FLNP A.D. Rogov

Collaboration
Country or International
Organization
City Institute or Laboratory
Czech Republic Prague CU  
Germany Hamburg Univ.  
  Munich MPI-P  
  Tubingen Univ.  
  Zeuthen DESY  
Italy Turin UniTo  
Japan Wako RIKEN  
Mexico Puebla BUAP  
Poland Warsaw UW  
Republic of Korea Seoul EWU  
Romania Magurele ISS  
Russia Moscow NNRU "MEPhI"  
    SINP MSU  
  Moscow, Troitsk INR RAS  
  Irkutsk ISU