Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer

Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer
AMS-02 on the truss, as viewed during an Expedition 50 spacewalk
Module statistics
Part ofInternational Space Station
Launch date16 May 2011 13:56:28 (2011-05-16UTC13:56:28) UTC[1][2][3]
Launch vehicleSpace Shuttle Endeavour
BerthedMay 19, 2011; 13 years ago (May 19, 2011)
Mass6,717 kg (14,808 lb)
AMS-02 logo
Computer rendering of AMS-02

The Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer (AMS-02) is a particle physics experiment module that is mounted on the International Space Station (ISS).[4] The experiment is a recognized CERN experiment (RE1).[5][6] The module is a detector that measures antimatter in cosmic rays; this information is needed to understand the formation of the universe and search for evidence of dark matter.

The principal investigator is Nobel laureate particle physicist Samuel Ting. The launch of Space Shuttle Endeavour flight STS-134 carrying AMS-02 took place on May 16, 2011, and the spectrometer was installed on May 19, 2011.[7][8] By April 15, 2015, AMS-02 had recorded over 60 billion cosmic ray events[9] and 90 billion after five years of operation since its installation in May 2011.[10]

In March 2013, Professor Ting reported initial results, saying that AMS had observed over 400,000 positrons, with the positron to electron fraction increasing from 10 GeV to 250 GeV. (Later results have shown a decrease in positron fraction at energies over about 275 GeV). There was "no significant variation over time, or any preferred incoming direction. These results are consistent with the positrons originating from the annihilation of dark matter particles in space, but not yet sufficiently conclusive to rule out other explanations." The results have been published in Physical Review Letters.[11] Additional data are still being collected.[11][12][13][14][15][16][17]

  1. ^ Moskowitz, Clara (April 29, 2011). "NASA Delays Last Launch of Shuttle Endeavour Due to Malfunction". Space.com. Retrieved April 29, 2011.
  2. ^ Final Shuttle Flight Will Be Delayed at Least Until November for AMS Switchout – April 26th, 2010
  3. ^ "Space Shuttle Launch and Landing". NASA. Archived from the original on May 24, 2011. Retrieved May 16, 2011.
  4. ^ Kristine Rainey (April 2, 2013). Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer (AMS): How It Works, NASA. Retrieved June 2, 2019.
  5. ^ "Recognized Experiments at CERN". The CERN Scientific Committees. CERN. Archived from the original on June 13, 2019. Retrieved January 20, 2020.
  6. ^ "RE1/AMS : Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer (AMS) for Extraterrestrial Study of Antimatter, Matter and Missing Matter on the International Space Station". CERN. Retrieved January 20, 2020.
  7. ^ Cite error: The named reference ESTEC2 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  8. ^ "AMS–NASA meeting results". AMS collaboration. April 18, 2010. Archived from the original on April 26, 2010. Retrieved April 19, 2010.
  9. ^ ""AMS Days at CERN" and Latest Results". AMS02.org. Archived from the original on June 1, 2019. Retrieved December 29, 2015.
  10. ^ "The First Five years of AMS on the International Space Station" (PDF). AMS collaboration. December 2016. Archived from the original (PDF) on July 12, 2022. Retrieved December 12, 2016.
  11. ^ a b Aguilar, M.; Alberti, G.; Alpat, B.; Alvino, A.; Ambrosi, G.; Andeen, K.; Anderhub, H.; Arruda, L.; Azzarello, P.; Bachlechner, A.; Barao, F.; Baret, B.; Barrau, A.; Barrin, L.; Bartoloni, A.; Basara, L.; Basili, A.; Batalha, L.; Bates, J.; Battiston, R.; Bazo, J.; Becker, R.; Becker, U.; Behlmann, M.; Beischer, B.; Berdugo, J.; Berges, P.; Bertucci, B.; Bigongiari, G.; et al. (2013). "First Result from the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer on the International Space Station: Precision Measurement of the Positron Fraction in Primary Cosmic Rays of 0.5–350 GeV" (PDF). Physical Review Letters. 110 (14): 141102. Bibcode:2013PhRvL.110n1102A. doi:10.1103/PhysRevLett.110.141102. PMID 25166975.
  12. ^ Staff (April 3, 2013). "First Result from the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer Experiment". AMS Collaboration. Archived from the original on April 8, 2013. Retrieved April 3, 2013.
  13. ^ Heilprin, John; Borenstein, Seth (April 3, 2013). "Scientists find hint of dark matter from cosmos". AP News. Archived from the original on May 10, 2013. Retrieved April 3, 2013.
  14. ^ Amos, Jonathan (April 3, 2013). "Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer zeroes in on dark matter". BBC. Retrieved April 3, 2013.
  15. ^ Perrotto, Trent J.; Byerly, Josh (April 2, 2013). "NASA TV Briefing Discusses Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer Results". NASA. Retrieved April 3, 2013.
  16. ^ Overbye, Dennis (April 3, 2013). "New Clues to the Mystery of Dark Matter". The New York Times. Retrieved April 3, 2013.
  17. ^ "AMS experiment measures antimatter excess in space". July 18, 2024.