Cosmic-Ray Extremely Distributed Observatory: Status and Perspectives

Abstract

The Cosmic-Ray Extremely Distributed Observatory (CREDO) is a project dedicated to global studies of extremely extended cosmic-ray phenomena, the cosmic-ray ensembles (CRE), beyond the capabilities of existing detectors and observatories. Up to date cosmic-ray research has been focused on detecting single air showers, while the search for ensembles of cosmic-rays, which may overspread a significant fraction of the Earth, is a scientific terra incognita. Instead of developing and commissioning a completely new global detector infrastructure, CREDO proposes approaching the global cosmic-ray analysis objectives with all types of available detectors, from professional to pocket size, merged into a worldwide network. With such a network it is possible to search for evidences of correlated cosmic-ray ensembles. One of the observables that can be investigated in CREDO is a number of spatially isolated events collected in a small time window which could shed light on fundamental physics issues. The CREDO mission and strategy requires active engagement of a large number of participants, also non-experts, who will contribute to the project by using common electronic devices (e.g. smartphones). In this note the status and perspectives of the project is presented.

Cosmic-Ray Extremely Distributed Observatory

“…That is, these data have second-or higher-order statistical functions that are periodic functions of time. More general models can account for the presence of multiple, possibly incommensurate, and irregular periodicities ( [210], Chapters 1,2). The observed signals are not periodic, but the hidden periodicity can be restored by estimating statistical functions from the data.…”

“…The signatures of CRE might be spread over very large areas, as illustrated in Figure 1, and this feature might make them all but impossible to detect by existing detector systems operating in isolation. On the other hand, if the active detectors operate as part of a global network, as proposed by The Cosmic-Ray Extremely Distributed Observatory (CREDO) [1][2][3], these CRE are naturally more likely to be observed. The particles (including photons) that constitute a CRE might have energies that essentially span the entire cosmic-ray energy spectrum, so in practice all cosmic-ray detectors could contribute in a common effort towards the hunt for CRE.…”

Cosmic Ray Extremely Distributed Observatory

“…1, the signatures of CRE might be spread over very large surfaces which might make them hardly detectable by existing detector systems operating individually. On the other hand, if these detector systems operate under a planetary (and beyond) network, as proposed by The Cosmic-Ray Extremely Distributed Observatory (CREDO) [1][2][3], the chances for detection of CRE will naturally increase. The components of CRE might have energies that practically span the whole cosmic-ray energy spectrum.…”

“…That is, these data have second-or higher-order statistical functions that are periodic functions of time. More general models can account for the presence of multiple, possibly incommensurate, and irregular periodicities [213,Chapters 1,2]. The observed signals are not periodic, but the hidden periodicity can be restored by estimating statistical functions from the data.…”

Fifty Years of Energy Extraction from Rotating Black Hole: Revisiting Magnetic Penrose Process

“…The flux of UHECRs with energy >10 20 eV is about one particle per km 2 per century. Therefore, recently, the new infrastructure for global search of cosmic rays called 'Cosmic Rays Extremely Distributed Observatory' (CREDO) has been proposed, which is based on the detection of cosmic rays with large number of mobile smartphones around the globe [88]. One of the promising acceleration scenarios of UHECRs is the shock acceleration in the plasma of relativistic jets (see, e.g., [89]).…”