The General Antiparticle Spectrometer (GAPS) is an Antarctic balloon experiment designed for low-energy (0.1–0.3 GeV/n) cosmic antinuclei as signatures of dark matter annihilation or decay. GAPS is optimized to detect low-energy antideuterons, as well as to provide unprecedented sensitivity to low-energy antiprotons and antihelium nuclei. The novel GAPS antiparticle detection technique, based on the formation, decay, and annihilation of exotic atoms, provides greater identification power for these low-energy antinuclei than previous magnetic spectrometer experiments. This work reports the sensitivity of GAPS to detect antihelium-3 nuclei, based on full instrument simulation, event reconstruction, and realistic atmospheric influence simulations. The report of antihelium nuclei candidate events by AMS-02 has generated considerable interest in antihelium nuclei as probes of dark matter and other beyond the Standard Model theories. GAPS is in a unique position to detect or set upper limits on the cosmic antihelium nuclei flux in an energy range that is essentially free of astrophysical background. In three 35-day long-duration balloon flights, GAPS will be sensitive to an antihelium flux on the level of 1.3−1.2+4.5·10−6 m-2sr-1s-1(GeV/n)-1 (95% confidence level) in the energy range of 0.11–0.3 GeV/n, opening a new window on rare cosmic physics.
Cosmic antihelium-3 nuclei sensitivity of the GAPS experiment / Saffold, N.; Aramaki, T.; Bird, R.; Boezio, M.; Boggs, S. E.; Bonvicini, V.; Campana, D.; Craig, W. W.; von Doetinchem, P.; Everson, E.; Fabris, L.; Fuke, H.; Gahbauer, F.; Garcia, I.; Gerrity, C.; Hailey, C. J.; Hayashi, T.; Kato, C.; Kawachi, A.; Kobayashi, S.; Kozai, M.; Lenni, A.; Lowell, A.; Manghisoni, M.; Marcelli, N.; Mognet, S. I.; Munakata, K.; Munini, R.; Nakagami, Y.; Olson, J.; Ong, R. A.; Osteria, G.; Perez, K.; Pope, I.; Quinn, S.; Re, V.; Reed, M.; Riceputi, E.; Roach, B.; Rogers, F.; Ryan, J. L.; Scotti, V.; Shimizu, Y.; Sonzogni, M.; Sparvoli, R.; Stoessl, A.; Tiberio, A.; Vannuccini, E.; Wada, T.; Xiao, M.; Yamatani, M.; Yoshida, A.; Yoshida, T.; Zampa, G.; Zweerink, J.. - In: ASTROPARTICLE PHYSICS. - ISSN 0927-6505. - 130:(2021), p. 102580. [10.1016/j.astropartphys.2021.102580]
Cosmic antihelium-3 nuclei sensitivity of the GAPS experiment
Scotti V.;
2021
Abstract
The General Antiparticle Spectrometer (GAPS) is an Antarctic balloon experiment designed for low-energy (0.1–0.3 GeV/n) cosmic antinuclei as signatures of dark matter annihilation or decay. GAPS is optimized to detect low-energy antideuterons, as well as to provide unprecedented sensitivity to low-energy antiprotons and antihelium nuclei. The novel GAPS antiparticle detection technique, based on the formation, decay, and annihilation of exotic atoms, provides greater identification power for these low-energy antinuclei than previous magnetic spectrometer experiments. This work reports the sensitivity of GAPS to detect antihelium-3 nuclei, based on full instrument simulation, event reconstruction, and realistic atmospheric influence simulations. The report of antihelium nuclei candidate events by AMS-02 has generated considerable interest in antihelium nuclei as probes of dark matter and other beyond the Standard Model theories. GAPS is in a unique position to detect or set upper limits on the cosmic antihelium nuclei flux in an energy range that is essentially free of astrophysical background. In three 35-day long-duration balloon flights, GAPS will be sensitive to an antihelium flux on the level of 1.3−1.2+4.5·10−6 m-2sr-1s-1(GeV/n)-1 (95% confidence level) in the energy range of 0.11–0.3 GeV/n, opening a new window on rare cosmic physics.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
