Partner Project/C2-CDI-STAR-2013-333, “Pilot study of ultra-high energy COsmic rays through their Space-ATmospheric interactions – COSAT”, 2013-2015
Project Organizations
1. Coordinator (CO): Institute of Space Science
Project Manager (CO): Dr. Paula Gina Isar
2. Partner (P1): National Institute of Research and Development for Optoelectronics
Person in charge (P1): Dr. Doina Nicolae
Abstract
One hundred years after the discovery of cosmic rays, the study of charged ultra-high energy cosmic rays remains a vital activity in fundamental physics and one of the greatest challenges in Astroparticle Physics, which uses cosmic particles to understand violent phenomena in the Universe.
While primary cosmic rays could not be measured directly until it was possible to get the detectors highly in the atmosphere using balloons or spacecraft, nowadays very energetic cosmic rays can also be detected indirectly by ground-based experiments measuring their EAS induced Cherenkov, fluorescent light, or radio waves.
All cosmic ray measurements (performed either from space or ground) rely on an accurate understanding of atmospheric phenomena, therefore, the COSAT project will investigate the energetic cosmic rays physical processes using the atmosphere as a detector.
The project is accessing the lowest level of technology readiness and the scientific research begins to be translated into applied R&D.
The project results are envisaged to come in support to ESA – EUSO, SSA – space weather and Earth Observation Missions.
Project goal
The interlink between astroparticle physics, remote sensing and atmospheric environment through the ultra-high energy cosmic ray interactions and effects in the Earth’s atmosphere, based on their present ground – based and future space-based experiments.
Objectives
1. Investigate energetic cosmic rays physical processes using the atmosphere as a detector
2. Identify potential scientific niches in the field of space science and prepare to participate to the ESA’s Optional Programs (Science, Earth’s Observation)
Reached results
1. Project’s webpage for scientific, outreach and multimedia dissemination
2. Software and hardware for data storage and processing – ongoing
3. LIDAR measurements – ongoing
4. Given talks and poster presentations to outreach events, schools, workshops and conferences (ISI article – planned)
4. Mass-media reportages
Milestones
Phase 1 (released in 2013)
Phase 2 (released in 2014)
Phase 3 (scheduled in 2015)
Dissemination
1. AERA meeting in Wuppertal (talk presentation), Bergische Universität, Germany, 10-11 Feb 2014
2. (Work) Visit at KIT – Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Germany, 11-16 Feb 2014
3. ESA-EUSC-JRC 2014, Image Information Mining Conf. University Politehnica Bucharest, 5-7 March 2014
4. EUSO workshop in Bucharest (COSAT – talk presentation), Institute of Space Science, 1-2 April 2014
5. (Work) Visit at KIT, 27 April – 1 May, 2014, Karlsruhe, Germany
6. EGU 2014 (poster), 27April – 2 May, 2014, Viena, Austria
7. „Romanian Space Week” (COSAT – talk presentation), 12-16 May2014, Bucharest, Romania
8. „AtmoHEAD (COSAT – poster presentation; proceedings) 19 – 21 May, 2014, Padova, Italy
9. Annual Scientific Session of the Faculty of Physics, University Bucharest, (talk presentation), 20 June 2014, Bucharest
10. International School on Image Processing (talk presentation), Brasov, 14-18 July, 2014
11. „Carpathian Summer School of Physics” (talk presentation, proceedings), 13-26 July 2014, Sinaia, Romania
12. CORSIKA SCHOOL, 19-23 Oct., 2014, Freudenstadt-Lauterbad, Germany
13. (Work) Visit at the University of Wuppertal, 23-25, Oct. 2014, Wuppertal, Germany
14. Auger Collaboration meeting + shift, 10-24 Nov. 2014, Malargue, Argentina
15. Auger Upgrade Meeting, 3-6 Feb., 2015, Orsay, France
16. ESA ECSS Training, 17-20 Feb., 2015, Bucharest, Romania
17. Isar, P. G., AIP Conference Proceedings, Vol. 1645, Issue 1, p.349-352, 2015
18. Isar, P.G., Nicolae, D., EPJ Web of Conferences, Vol. 89, 04001, 2015
19. 3rd Romanian Space Week (COSAT – talk presentation), 27 – 29 May, 2015, Bucharest
20. Scientific Annual Session/Physics Education (2 talks, Physics Education) at the Faculty of Physics/Uni Bucharest, 19th June, 2015, Magurele
21. Joint Project Workshop on ESA’s Earth Observation Programme, Magurele, 3 Nov. 2015
22. Pierre Auger Observatory (talk), Collaboration meeting + shift+Symposion ( see press release), Malargue, Argentina, 11-17 Nov, 2015
Outreach-Education
1. Radio Romania Cultural, Emisiunea Planeta Radio – Universul Stiintific cu Mihaela Ghita, (talk show) 17:05, 25 Feb 2014
2. Radio Romania Cultural, „Stiinta in cuvinte potrivite” cu Dan Manolache, Corina Negrea si Mihaela Ghita (interview), 2 April 2014
3. „Scoala Altfel” (Razele cosmice, mesageri ai Universului – education talks), ISS Bucharest, 7-11 April 2014
4. „Space Expo” (GALILEO, COPERNICUS, COSMIC RAYS – public talks), Craiova, Romania, 19-27 April 2014
5. Radio Romania Cultural, Emisiunea Planeta Radio – Universul Stiintific cu Mihaela Ghita, (interdisciplinary talk show, Invitati: Dr. Gina Isar, Dr. Doina Nicolae si Prof. Mihai Dima) 17:05, 3th June 2014, Bucharest
6. Bucharest Science Festival (public talk), 25th Sept. 2014, Bucharest, Romania
7. Researchers Night (public talk), 26th Sept. 2014, Bucharest, Romania
8. Radio Romania Cultural, Emisiunea Planeta Radio – Universul Stiintific cu Mihaela Ghita, (talk show) 17:05, 9 Dec 2014
9. Seminar at the University Polytechnic Bucharest, by Careerteam, 18:00, March 5th, 2015
10. Video „CLRF – Central Laser Raman Facility at Auger” (filmed in Autumn 2014), YouTube, March 2015
11. „Scoala Altfel” (Mesageri ai Universului – education talks), ISS Bucharest, 6-9 April 2015
12. Seminar at the University of Bucharest, Faculty of Physics, 30th April, 2015
13. UNESCO-L’OREAL ” For Women in Science”, in the Final, Romania, 2015 (13th May @ BCU)
14. Radio Romania Cultural, „Stiinta in cuvinte potrivite” cu Dan Manolache, Corina Negrea si Mihaela Ghita (interview, COSAT) , 27th May, 2015
15. Invited speaker by Bucharest British Council & Bucharest Community Foundation at Fondul Stiintescu event, Bucharest, 17th June, 2015
16. Radio Romania Cultural, „Stiinta in cuvinte potrivite” cu Dan Manolache, Corina Negrea si Mihaela Ghita (interview, Siintescu talk – „calatorie cosmica interactiva: Q&A” ), 17th June 2015
17. Bucharest Science Festival 2015 (public talks), 29th Sept., 2 Oct. 2015, Bucharest, Romania
18. TechMentori, Bucharest – ongoing (Tutoring, Dialog)
19. Pierre Auger Observatory (outreach talk), Collaboration meeting + AugerPrime Sympozium (press release), Malargue, Argentina, 11-17 Nov, 2015
Project Management
1. Kick-off-meeting, scientific seminars (Prezentare_COSAT, Prezentare_RADO), ISS Bucharest, Dec 2013
Education
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- “World Space Week – Cu mic cu mare … prin Univers”
- “Carpathian Summer School of Physics”
- “Researchers night“
- “Scoala Altfel“
- “FameLab Romania”
- “European Space Expo“
- International Olympiad on Astronomy & Astrophysics
- „Bucharest Science Festival”
- „Science Fair”
- Seminar on Astroparticle Physics at Faculty of Physics/University Bucharest
- CareerTeam, seminat at University Polytechnic Bucharest
- „Stiintescu “mini-science fair”
- „TechMentor Program”
- Magazine “Stiinta si Tehnica”Cosmic Extrems
- Cosmic Extrems