Abstract
After seven years of data taking in space, the experiment PAMELA is showing very interesting features in cosmic rays, namely in the fluxes of protons, helium, electrons, that might change our basic vision of the mechanisms of production, acceleration and propagation of cosmic rays in the galaxy. In addition, PAMELA measurements of cosmic antiproton and positron fluxes are setting strong constraints to the nature of Dark Matter. The continuous particle detection is allowing a constant monitoring of the solar activity and detailed study of the solar modulation for a long period, giving important improvements to the comprehension of the heliosphere mechanisms. PAMELA is also measuring the radiation environment around the Earth, and has recently discovered an antiproton radiation belt.
Highlights
The PAMELA satellite-borne experiment [1] is composed of a set of high-precision cosmic-ray detectors, sensitive to particles and antiparticles with identification of the charge sign, and to light nuclei (Z < 8)
The PAMELA apparatus is housed inside a pressurized Al vessel filled with N2 at 1 atm, with thickness of 2 mm in correspondence of the PAMELA acceptance window, and installed on-board of the Resurs-DK1 satellite, following an orbit with altitude varying between 350 and 600 km and inclination of 70◦
PAMELA achieves a proton rejection power better than 105 up to an energy of ∼ 200 GeV, with a positron selection efficiency of 80%, when employing suitably strong cuts, based on the topology of the shower inside the calorimeter, and when requiring a match between the total energy release detected in the calorimeter and the particle momentum given by the spectrometer
Summary
The PAMELA satellite-borne experiment [1] is composed of a set of high-precision cosmic-ray detectors, sensitive to particles and antiparticles with identification of the charge sign, and to light nuclei (Z < 8). It is installed on a low-Earth-orbit (LEO) satellite and in continuous data acquisition mode since July 2006. 3 we review some of the most significant scientific results obtained with the PAMELA experiment and affecting various research fields, including cosmicray theories, exotic physics and the study of solar and terrestrial environment.
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