Astrophysics and Particle Physics in Space with the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer

2003 ◽  
Vol 18 (28) ◽  
pp. 1951-1966 ◽  
Author(s):  
Giovanni Lamanna
Keyword(s):  
Particle Physics ◽  
Gamma Ray ◽  
Space Shuttle ◽  
Space Station ◽  
Cosmic Ray ◽  
High Energy ◽  
Magnetic Spectrometer ◽  
High Energy Particle ◽  
Physics Experiment ◽  
Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer

The Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer (AMS) is a high energy particle physics experiment in space scheduled to be installed on the International Space Station (ISS) by 2006 for a three-year mission. After a precursor flight of a prototype detector on board of the NASA Space Shuttle in June 1998, the construction of the detector in its final configuration is started and it will be completed by 2004. The purpose of this experiment is to provide a high statistics measurement of charged particles and nuclei in rigidity range 0.5 GV to few TV and to explore the high-energy (> 1 GeV ) gamma-ray sky. In this paper we describe the detector layout and present an overview of the main scientific goals both in the domain of astrophysics: cosmic-ray origin, age and propagation and the exploration of the most energetic gamma-ray sources; and in the domain of astroparticle: the anti-matter and the dark matter searches.

THE ALPHA MAGNETIC SPECTROMETER ON THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION

2012 ◽  
Vol 21 (08) ◽  
pp. 1230005 ◽  
Author(s):  
ANDREI KOUNINE
Keyword(s):  
International Space Station ◽  
Space Station ◽  
High Energy ◽  
New Physics ◽  
General Purpose ◽  
Magnetic Spectrometer ◽  
High Energy Particle ◽  
International Space ◽  
Long Duration ◽  
Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer

The Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer (AMS-02) is a general purpose high energy particle detector which was successfully deployed on the International Space Station (ISS) on May 19, 2011 to conduct a unique long duration mission of fundamental physics research in space. Among the physics objectives of AMS are the searches for an understanding of Dark Matter, Anti-matter, the origin of cosmic rays and the exploration of new physics phenomena not possible to study with ground based experiments. This paper reviews the layout of the AMS-02 detector, tests and calibrations performed with the detector on the ground, and its performance on the ISS illustrated with data collected during the first year of operations in space.

Fresh insights on properties of particle fluxes in cosmic rays measured with the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer on the international space station

2021 ◽  
Vol 36 (12) ◽  
pp. 2130011
Author(s):  
Ziyuan Li ◽  
Jie Feng
Keyword(s):  
Cosmic Rays ◽  
Particle Physics ◽  
Space Station ◽  
Cosmic Ray ◽  
New Physics ◽  
Magnetic Spectrometer ◽  
Proton Spectrum ◽  
Momentum Dependence ◽  
Positron Flux ◽  
Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer

The Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer is a particle physics detector focusing on the search for dark matter, the existence of antimatter, the origin and composition of cosmic rays from primordial sources in the universe and the exploration of new physics in space. Important features of the elementary particle (proton, antiproton, positron and election) fluxes in cosmic rays are presented: (1) The proton spectrum has a smooth hardening from 200 GeV; (2) antiproton and positron spectra show excess from traditional physics background; (3) in particular, the positron flux shows a source term with a cutoff energy of 810 GeV, which raises the question of its source; (4) the origin of the energetic electrons is different from that of positrons and (5) the identical momentum dependence of primary and secondary cosmic ray nuclei fluxes are also reviewed.

THE ALPHA MAGNETIC SPECTROMETER, A PARTICLE PHYSICS EXPERIMENT IN SPACE

2002 ◽  
Vol 17 (12n13) ◽  
pp. 1589-1601 ◽  
Author(s):  
ROBERTO BATTISTON
Keyword(s):  
Particle Physics ◽  
State Of The Art ◽  
Space Station ◽  
Low Earth Orbit ◽  
Magnetic Spectrometer ◽  
Trapped Particles ◽  
Electron Positron ◽  
New Type ◽  
Physics Experiment ◽  
Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer

The Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer (AMS) is a state of the art detector for the extrater-restrial study of matter, antimatter and missing matter. During the STS-91 precursor flight in may 1998 AMS collected nearly 100 millions of Cosmic Rays on Low Earth Orbit, measuring with high accuracy their composition. We review the results on the flux of proton, electron, positron and helium. Analysis of the under cutoff spectra indicates the existence of a new type of belts of energetic trapped particles characterized by a dominance of positrons versus electrons. AMS is currently being refurbished for a three year mission on the International Space Station where the its sensitivity to rare events will be increased by three to four orders of magnitude.

scholarly journals Properties of Elementary Particle Fluxes in Primary Cosmic Rays Measured with the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer on the International Space Station

2019 ◽  
Vol 209 ◽  
pp. 01007
Author(s):  
Francesco Nozzoli
Keyword(s):  
Electron Flux ◽  
Space Station ◽  
Cosmic Ray ◽  
High Energy ◽  
Precision Measurements ◽  
High Energy Electrons ◽  
Electrons And Positrons ◽  
Positron Flux ◽  
Rigidity Dependence ◽  
Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer

Precision measurements by AMS of the fluxes of cosmic ray positrons, electrons, antiprotons, protons as well as their rations reveal several unexpected and intriguing features. The presented measurements extend the energy range of the previous observations with much increased precision. The new results show that the behavior of positron flux at around 300 GeV is consistent with a new source that produce equal amount of high energy electrons and positrons. In addition, in the absolute rigidity range 60–500 GV, the antiproton, proton, and positron fluxes are found to have nearly identical rigidity dependence and the electron flux exhibits different rigidity dependence.

scholarly journals Observation of Properties of Primary and Secondary Cosmic Rays by the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer on the International Space Station

2019 ◽  
Vol 208 ◽  
pp. 13002
Author(s):  
Alberto Oliva
Keyword(s):  
Cosmic Rays ◽  
International Space Station ◽  
Spectral Index ◽  
Space Station ◽  
Cosmic Ray ◽  
Magnetic Spectrometer ◽  
Light Nuclei ◽  
International Space ◽  
Rigidity Dependence ◽  
Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer

The Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer (AMS-02) is a wide acceptance high-energy physics experiment installed on the International Space Station in May 2011 and operating continuously since then. With a collection rate of approximately 1.7 × 1010 events/year, and the combined identification capabilities of 5 independent detectors, AMS-02 is able to precisely separate cosmic rays light nuclei (1 ≤ Z ≤ 8). Knowledge of the precise rigidity dependence of the light nuclei fluxes is important in understanding the origin, acceleration, and propagation of cosmic rays. AMS-02 collaboration has recently released the precise measurements of the fluxes of light nuclei as a function of rigidity (momentum/charge) in the range between 2 GV and 3 TV. Based on the observed spectral behaviour, the light nuclei can be separated in three distinct families: primaries (hydrogen, helium, carbon, and oxygen), secondaries (lithium, beryllium, and boron), and mixed (nitrogen). Spectral indices of all light nuclei fluxes progressively harden above 100 GV. Primary cosmic ray fluxes have an identical hardening above 60 GV, of about γ = 0.12 ± 0.04. While helium, carbon and oxygen have identical spectral index magnitude, the hydrogen spectral index shows a different magnitude, i.e. the primary-to-primary H/He ratio is well described by a single power law above 45 GV with index -0.077 ± 0.007. Secondary cosmic ray fluxes have identical rigidity dependence above 30 GV. Secondary cosmic rays all harden more than primary species, and together all secondary-to-primary ratios show a hardening difference of 0.13 ± 0.03. Remarkably, the nitrogen flux is well described over the entire rigidity range by the sum of the primary flux equal to 9% of the oxygen flux and the secondary flux equal to 62% of the boron flux.

scholarly journals Observation of the Energy Dependence of Primary and Secondary Cosmic Rays with the AMS Detector on the International Space Station

2019 ◽  
Vol 209 ◽  
pp. 01020
Author(s):  
V. Formato
Keyword(s):  
Cosmic Rays ◽  
Supernova Remnants ◽  
Space Station ◽  
Cosmic Ray ◽  
High Energy ◽  
High Energy Particle ◽  
Detailed Knowledge ◽  
Precision Study ◽  
Peculiar Case ◽  
Primary Cosmic Rays

Precision study of cosmic nuclei provides detailed knowledge on the origin and propagation of cosmic rays. AMS is a multi-purpose high energy particle detector designed to measure and identify cosmic ray nuclei with unprecedented precision. It is able to provide precision studies of nuclei simultaneously to multi-TeV energies. In 7 years on the Space Station, AMS has collected more than 120 billion both primary and secondary cosmic rays. Primary cosmic rays, such as p, He, C and O, are believed to be mainly produced and accelerated in supernova remnants, while secondary cosmic rays, such as Li, Be and B are thought to be produced by collisions of heavier nuclei with interstellar matter. Primary cosmic rays such as He, C, and O are found to have identical rigidity dependence, similarly to secondary cosmic rays (such as Li, Be and B) which share the same the same spectral shape. The peculiar case of Nitrogen being a mixture of a primary and secondary component will also be shown.

scholarly journals THE SEARCH FOR NEUTRINO SOURCES BEYOND THE SUN

1996 ◽  
Vol 11 (19) ◽  
pp. 3393-3413 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. BARWICK ◽  
F. HALZEN ◽  
P.B. PRICE
Keyword(s):  
Particle Physics ◽  
Gamma Ray ◽  
Cosmic Ray ◽  
High Energy ◽  
Neutrino Telescope ◽  
The Sun ◽  
Electromagnetic Showers ◽  
Electron Neutrinos ◽  
Neutrino Astronomy ◽  
Near Future

It is hoped that in the near future, neutrino astronomy, born with the identification of thermonuclear fusion in the sun and the particle processes controlling the fate of a nearby supernova, will reach throughout and beyond our galaxy and make measurements relevant to cosmology, astrophysics, cosmic-ray physics and particle physics. The construction of a high-energy neutrino telescope requires a huge volume of very transparent, deeply buried material, such as ocean water or ice, which acts as the medium for detecting the particles. The AMANDA1 muon and neutrino telescope, now operating four strings of photomultiplier tubes buried in deep ice at the South Pole, is scheduled to be expanded to a ten-string array. The data collected over the first two years cover the three basic modes in which such instruments are operated: (i) the burst mode which monitors the sky for supernovae, (ii) the detection of electromagnetic showers initiated by PeV-energy cosmic electron neutrinos, and (iii) muon trajectory reconstruction for neutrino and gamma-ray astronomy. We speculate on the possible architectures of kilometer-scale instruments, using early data as a guideline.

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