Here the ‘calm’ neutron observatory was installed
In a corner of the Guadalajara Science and Technology Park, far from large telescopes and space agencies, there are A 40 -ton mole dedicated to detecting high -energy particles that constantly bombard the earth. It’s called calm. “Castilla-La Mancha Neutron Monitor”. And for more than a decade it is the first and only installation of its kind in Spain. His work: monitor the attacks of the sun and understand how cosmic rays affect our planet. From space to Guadalajara. The origin of calm is intrinsically linked to the mission Solar orbiter of the European Space Agency. Scientists from the University of Alcalá designed one of the key instruments of the probe, the energy particle detector. Following that experience, an idea arose: build an instrument on land. “We thought of a system that would allow us He explained to Eldiario.es Juan José Blanco, head of the project. Running since 2011. What began almost as a support project for a space mission of ESA has become an international reference in neutron monitoring. Financed with funds from the European Union and the Board of Communities of Castilla-La Mancha, Calm is integrated into the World Network of Neutron Monitorswhere you pour your data in real time. Today is a distributed project. Calm has a twin node called orca which detects both neutrons and muons. It is at the Antarctic base Juan Carlos I of Livingston Island, a magnetically privileged location. The project also has a mobile detector called Mini-Calma which has traveled aboard the Hesperides ship to measure the flow of cosmic rays throughout the journey to Antarctica. The last node to join the project is called Icaro and is installed in the Izaña Atmospheric Observatory (in Tenerife). It measures neutron of solar origin from 2,000 meters of altitude. What exactly measures. When Cosmic rays (High energy particles from deep space) collide with the atoms of our atmosphere, generate a cascade of secondary particles. Among them, neutrons that reach the surface. The sun, with its magnetic field, acts as a modulating shield: the greater solar activity, less galactic cosmic rays reach the earth, and vice versa. Measuring neutron flow, calm can infer solar activity. In addition, it is able to directly detect the arrival of solar energy particles that have been expelled during large eruptions. How a neutron monitor works. The detector consists of gas full of gas surrounded by several layers that alternate lead and polyethylene. This structure allows to reject neutrons that are not very energetic, that is, the environmental ones, letting those who come from space pass, after reducing their speed, to be able to analyze them. With 12 of its 15 active tubes, this 40 -ton machine is a particle filter of amazing precision. What is the use of calm. All this technology has a very practical purpose: to protect us from spatial meteorology. Solar eruptions and coronal mass ejections can be spectacular and create intense northern norter, but also They are extremely dangerous For our technological civilization. The Operators of the Electricity use this data to protect their facilities. Airlines and space agencies need them to assess radiation levels on high altitude routes. And the space industry to protect astronauts and satellites in orbit. It even has applications for interplanetary trips. After having already measured a complete solar cycle of 11 years, calm can be used in the missions to Mars to know which is the best time to start the trip, minimizing Astronaut’s exhibition to radiation. Image | Uah In Xataka | The biggest study in mice sows doubts about travel to Mars: the space shrinks the kidneys
