The RICH detector of the AMS-02 experiment: status and physics prospects

TL;DR

The paper discusses the status and physics potential of the RICH detector in the AMS-02 experiment, which aims to measure cosmic ray spectra and photon detection from the ISS with high precision.

Contribution

It presents the design, assembly, and testing status of the AMS-02 RICH detector and discusses its physics measurement capabilities.

Findings

RICH detector provides reliable particle velocity and charge measurements.

AMS-02 is expected to be operational by the end of 2008.

The detector enhances cosmic ray and photon detection for astrophysics research.

Abstract

The Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer (AMS), whose final version AMS-02 is to be installed on the International Space Station (ISS) for at least 3 years, is a detector designed to measure charged cosmic ray spectra with energies up to the TeV region and with high energy photon detection capability up to a few hundred GeV. It is equipped with several subsystems, one of which is a proximity focusing RICH detector with a dual radiator (aerogel+NaF) that provides reliable measurements for particle velocity and charge. The assembly and testing of the AMS RICH is currently being finished and the full AMS detector is expected to be ready by the end of 2008. The RICH detector of AMS-02 is presented. Physics prospects are briefly discussed.