The middle section consists of of a system for measuring very high, relativisitic velocities. These are large relatively low mass counter systems which are designed to measure low flux components of cosmic rays. The energy identifier at the bottom is a more massive component which is sensitive to the total particle energy. Click here for a more detailed description of the present concept. Click here for more technical details.
Cosmic rays form a major component of the energy density of the interstellar medium.
They consist of such a wide range of particles and energies that it is sometimes difficult to believe these can be the result of a single source. In fact there are only a few candidate energy sources which can provide the enormous amounts of power needed to sustain the flux of these particles in our galaxy. The flux of cosmic ray particles at earth is measured to decline quickly with increasing particle energy. 10 eV reflect the population of particles in the interstellar medium, unaffected by solar magnetic fields. At the highest energies single protons carrying many Joules of energy have been detected, the most energetic particles ever found.