Observing Ultra High Energy Cosmic Particles from Space: SEUSO, the Super Extreme Universe Space Observatory Mission

摘要

The experimental search for ultra high energy cosmic messengers, from $E\sim10^{19}$ eV to beyond $E\sim 10^{20}$ eV, at the very end of the known energyspectrum, constitutes an extraordinary opportunity to explore a largely unknownaspect of our universe. Key scientific goals are the identification of thesources of ultra high energy particles, the measurement of their spectra andthe study of galactic and local intergalactic magnetic fields. Ultra highenergy particles might, also, carry evidence of unknown physics or of exoticparticles relics of the early universe. To meet this challenge a significantincrease in the integrated exposure is required. This implies a new class ofexperiments with larger acceptances and good understanding of the systematicuncertainties. Space based observatories can reach the instantaneous apertureand the integrated exposure necessary to systematically explore the ultra highenergy universe. In this paper, after briefly summarising the science case ofthe mission, we describe the scientific goals and requirements of the SEUSOconcept. We then introduce the SEUSO observational approach and describe themain instrument and mission features. We conclude discussing the expectedperformance of the mission.