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PAMELA detector

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For other uses, see PAMELA.
File:PamLogo A1blu3.gif
PAMELA logo

PAMELA is a bacronym for Payload for Antimatter Matter Exploration and Light-nuclei Astrophysics.

Launched on 15 June 2006, PAMELA is the first satellite dedicated to detecting cosmic rays and also antimatter from space, in the form of positrons and antiprotons. Other objectives include long-term monitoring of the solar modulation of cosmic rays, measurements of energetic particles from the Sun, high-energy particles in Earth's magnetosphere, and Jovian electrons.[1] It is also hoped that it may detect evidence of dark matter annihilation.[2]

The result of a scientific collaboration between Russia, Italy, Germany and Sweden, the 470 kg, US$32 million (EU€24.8 million, UK£16.8 million) instrument will make observations for three years. It is mounted on the upward-facing side of the Resurs-DK1 Russian satellite.[1]

PAMELA has been put in an elliptical orbit at an altitude between 350 and 610 Km, with inclination of 70°.

The detector is composed of a series of scintillator counters at the ends of a magnetic spectrometer to provide charge, Time of Flight and Rigidity informations. At the bottom of the device are a Silicon-Tungsten calorimeter and a Neutron Detector. An anticounter system made of scintillators surrounding the apparatus is used to reject false triggers and albedo particles.

Sensitivity[1]
Particle Energy Range
Antiproton flux 80 MeV - 190 GeV
Positron flux 50 MeV - 270 GeV
Electron flux up to 400 GeV
Proton flux up to 700 GeV
Electron/positron flux up to 2 TeV
Light nuclei (up to Z=6) up to 200 GeV/n
Light isotopes (D, 3He) up to 1 GeV/n
Antinuclei search sensitivity better than 10-7 in antiHe/He

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c http://wizard.roma2.infn.it/pamela/
  2. ^ Pamela Mission: Dark Matter Research
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