254 research outputs found
Single \pi^- production in np collisions for excess energies up to 90 MeV
The quasifree reaction np\to pp\pim was studied in a kinematically complete
experiment by bombarding a liquid hydrogen target with a deuteron beam of
momentum 1.85 GeV/c and analyzing the data along the lines of the spectator
model. In addition to the three charged ejectiles the spectator proton was also
detected in the large-acceptance time-of-flight spectrometer COSY-TOF. It was
identified by its momentum and flight direction thus yielding access to the
Fermi motion of the bound neutron and to the effective neutron 4-momentum
vector which differed from event to event. A range of almost 90
MeV excess energy above threshold was covered. Energy dependent angular
distributions, invariant mass spectra as well as fully covered Dalitz plots
were deduced. Sizeable FSI effects were found as were contributions of
and partial waves. The behavior of the elementary cross section
close to threshold is discussed in view of new cross section
data. In comparison with existing literature data the results provide a
sensitive test of the spectator model.Comment: 21 pages, 9 figures, 4 tables, submitted to EPJ
Measurement of boron and carbon fluxes in cosmic rays with the PAMELA experiment
The propagation of cosmic rays inside our galaxy plays a fundamental role in
shaping their injection spectra into those observed at Earth. One of the best
tools to investigate this issue is the ratio of fluxes for secondary and
primary species. The boron-to-carbon (B/C) ratio, in particular, is a sensitive
probe to investigate propagation mechanisms. This paper presents new
measurements of the absolute fluxes of boron and carbon nuclei, as well as the
B/C ratio, from the PAMELA space experiment. The results span the range 0.44 -
129 GeV/n in kinetic energy for data taken in the period July 2006 - March
2008
The cosmic-ray positron energy spectrum measured by PAMELA
Precision measurements of the positron component in the cosmic radiation
provide important information about the propagation of cosmic rays and the
nature of particle sources in our Galaxy. The satellite-borne experiment PAMELA
has been used to make a new measurement of the cosmic-ray positron flux and
fraction that extends previously published measurements up to 300 GeV in
kinetic energy. The combined measurements of the cosmic-ray positron energy
spectrum and fraction provide a unique tool to constrain interpretation models.
During the recent solar minimum activity period from July 2006 to December 2009
approximately 24500 positrons were observed. The results cannot be easily
reconciled with purely secondary production and additional sources of either
astrophysical or exotic origin may be required.Comment: 14 pages, 4 figures, 1 table. Accepted for publication in Physical
Review Letters. Corrected a typo in the flux units of Table
The cosmic-ray electron flux measured by the PAMELA experiment between 1 and 625 GeV
Precision measurements of the electron component in the cosmic radiation
provide important information about the origin and propagation of cosmic rays
in the Galaxy. Here we present new results regarding negatively charged
electrons between 1 and 625 GeV performed by the satellite-borne experiment
PAMELA. This is the first time that cosmic-ray electrons have been identified
above 50 GeV. The electron spectrum can be described with a single power law
energy dependence with spectral index -3.18 +- 0.05 above the energy region
influenced by the solar wind (> 30 GeV). No significant spectral features are
observed and the data can be interpreted in terms of conventional diffusive
propagation models. However, the data are also consistent with models including
new cosmic-ray sources that could explain the rise in the positron fraction.Comment: 11 pages, 3 figures, accepted for publication in PR
Time dependence of the proton flux measured by PAMELA during the July 2006 - December 2009 solar minimum
The energy spectra of galactic cosmic rays carry fundamental information
regarding their origin and propagation. These spectra, when measured near
Earth, are significantly affected by the solar magnetic field. A comprehensive
description of the cosmic radiation must therefore include the transport and
modulation of cosmic rays inside the heliosphere. During the end of the last
decade the Sun underwent a peculiarly long quiet phase well suited to study
modulation processes. In this paper we present proton spectra measured from
July 2006 to December 2009 by PAMELA. The large collected statistics of protons
allowed the time variation to be followed on a nearly monthly basis down to 400
MV. Data are compared with a state-of-the-art three-dimensional model of solar
modulation.Comment: 17 pages, 5 figures, 1 table, to appear in Astrophysical Journal.
Corrected two elements of Table
Measurement of the isotopic composition of hydrogen and helium nuclei in cosmic rays with the PAMELA experiment
The satellite-borne experiment PAMELA has been used to make new measurements
of cosmic ray H and He isotopes. The isotopic composition was measured between
100 and 600 MeV/n for hydrogen and between 100 and 900 MeV/n for helium
isotopes over the 23rd solar minimum from July 2006 to December 2007. The
energy spectrum of these components carries fundamental information regarding
the propagation of cosmic rays in the galaxy which are competitive with those
obtained from other secondary to primary measurements such as B/C.Comment: 11 pages, 11 figures, 5 tables. To appear in Astrophysical Journa
PAMELA Measurements of Cosmic-ray Proton and Helium Spectra
Protons and helium nuclei are the most abundant components of the cosmic
radiation. Precise measurements of their fluxes are needed to understand the
acceleration and subsequent propagation of cosmic rays in the Galaxy. We report
precision measurements of the proton and helium spectra in the rigidity range 1
GV-1.2 TV performed by the satellite-borne experiment PAMELA. We find that the
spectral shapes of these two species are different and cannot be well described
by a single power law. These data challenge the current paradigm of cosmic-ray
acceleration in supernova remnants followed by diffusive propagation in the
Galaxy. More complex processes of acceleration and propagation of cosmic rays
are required to explain the spectral structures observed in our data.Comment: 13 pages, 4 figures, link to SOM (with tables) in the references.
This manuscript has been accepted for publication in Science. This version
has not undergone final editing. Please refer to the complete version of
record at http://www.sciencemag.org/ [www.sciencemag.org
Comparison of Isoscalar Vector Meson Production Cross Sections in Proton-Proton Collisions
The reaction was investigated with the TOF
spectrometer, which is an external experiment at the accelerator COSY
(Forschungszentrum J\"ulich, Germany). Total as well as differential cross
sections were determined at an excess energy of (). Using the total cross section of for the
reaction determined here and existing data for the reaction
, the ratio
turns out to be
significantly larger than expected by the Okubo-Zweig-Iizuka (OZI) rule. The
uncertainty of this ratio is considerably smaller than in previous
determinations. The differential distributions show that the
production is still dominated by S-wave production at this excess energy,
however higher partial waves clearly contribute. A comparison of the measured
angular distributions for production to published distributions for
production at shows that the data are consistent with an
identical production mechanism for both vector mesons
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