Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer Experiment

[Astronuc]

In the Plenary Session #1 of the Space Nuclear Conference 2005, Samuel C. C. Ting gave a presentation on the AMS-02, the second "Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer." The first, AMS-01, flew aboard the Space Shuttle during Mission STS-91.

The AMS homepage is - http://ams.cern.ch/AMS/ams_homepage.html

An experiment to search in space for dark matter, missing matter & antimatter on the international space station.

AMS-02 is scheduled for launch Oct 2005, but that depends on the Shuttle Schedule.

AMS-02 is a relatively large experiment designed to look at the distribution of numerous elements (ions) and anti-particles in the galactic cosmic radiation. It has a time resolution of 100 ps and a spatial resolution of 10 microns.

It has 8 planes of silicon solid-state detectors, representing 8 m² of detector area, with 200,000 channels.

AMS II Mechanical Integration Homepage - http://rbecker.home.cern.ch/rbecker/AMSII.html

The inductance of the AMS-02 magnets is 50 H and the current is 460 A for a stored energy level of 5 MJ.

 

[mfb]

Launched 2011 and had some interesting results since then. The larger than expected positron to electron ratio is among the most puzzling ones. Results from dark matter annihilation? Or product of some phenomenon we don't understand well yet?

There were some hints of anti-helium-3 nuclei, but I haven't seen a finished analysis about them.