Article ID Journal Published Year Pages File Type
1847912 Nuclear Physics B - Proceedings Supplements 2009 7 Pages PDF
Abstract

PAMELA is a satellite borne experiment designed to study with great accuracy cosmic rays of galactic, solar, and trapped nature in a wide energy range (protons: 80 MeV-700 GeV, electrons 50 MeV-400 GeV). Main objective is the study of the antimatter component: antiprotons (80 MeV-190 GeV), positrons (50 MeV-270 GeV) and search for antinuclei with a precision of the order of 10−8. The experiment, housed on board the Russian Resurs-DK1 satellite, was launched on June, 15th 2006 in a 350×600km orbit with an inclination of 70 degrees. In this work we describe the scientific objectives and the performance of PAMELA in its first two years of operation. Data on protons of trapped, secondary and galactic nature - as well as measurements of the December 13th 2006 Solar Particle Event - are also provided.

Related Topics
Physical Sciences and Engineering Physics and Astronomy Nuclear and High Energy Physics