Latest Results from the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer on the International Space Station

by Dr Mercedes Paniccia (Universite de Geneve (CH))

Monday 12 Dec 2022, 11:00 → 12:00 Europe/Zurich

Hybrid

The Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer (AMS) is the most powerful and sensitive cosmic-ray detector ever deployed in space to produce a complete inventory of charged particles and nuclei up to at least  Z=28 (Nickel) in cosmic rays near Earth in the rigidity (momentum/charge) range from GV to few TVs. Its physics goals are the study of cosmic-ray properties, indirect search for Dark Matter and direct searches for primordial antimatter and exotic forms of matter. The improvement in accuracy over previous measurements is made possible through its long duration time in space, large acceptance, built-in redundant systems and its thorough pre-flight calibration in the CERN test beam. These features enable AMS to analyse the data to an accuracy of ~1%. Since its installation on the International Space Station in May 2011, AMS has collected more than 200 billion cosmic-ray events and has produced precision measurements of the spectra of cosmic-ray electrons, positrons, protons, antiprotons, and nuclei from helium to silicon and iron, as well as the helium isotopic composition and time-resolved spectra of electrons, positrons, protons and helium nuclei. The percent precision of the AMS results is revealing unexpected features in cosmic-ray spectra that challenge the current understanding of the origin and of the acceleration and propagation mechanisms of cosmic rays in the galaxy. In this talk, I will present the latest AMS results on cosmic-ray nuclei spectra and progress on measurement of the isotopic composition of light nuclei.