Extraterrestrial artificial particle sources. Application to neutrino physics and cosmic rays studies
The memo is exploring possibilities to set up extraterrestrial experimental facilities to study particles physics. The Moon is considered as the most promising location for artificial particle sources outside the Earth. This natural satellite is surrounded with deep vacuum, is at low cryogenic temperatures and is always facing the Earth with one side. These features can be exploited by setting up lunar neutrino factory, which may create a possibility for more precise measurements of oscillations and possibly mass of neutrinos. Various types of facilities are discussed with focus on lunar linear accelerators and nuclear reactors. The other types such as lunar colliders or even orbiting sources are briefly mentioned too. Lunar particle accelerators pointing to Earth can also be used to calibrate atmospheric shower models, which are the key part of cosmic rays research.