Methods for Measuring the Cosmic-Ray Proton Spectrum With the Fermi LAT

TL;DR

This paper discusses methods for measuring the cosmic-ray proton spectrum using the Fermi LAT, focusing on unfolding techniques for reconstructed proton energy, building on previous electron spectrum measurements.

Contribution

It introduces novel methods for analyzing the cosmic-ray proton spectrum with the Fermi LAT, emphasizing energy unfolding techniques.

Findings

Demonstrated the feasibility of measuring the proton spectrum with Fermi LAT.

Presented new unfolding methods for proton energy reconstruction.

Outlined potential for future cosmic-ray proton studies.

Abstract

The Fermi Gamma-Ray Space Telescope was launched in June 2008 and the onboard Large Area Telescope (LAT) has been collecting data since August of that same year. The LAT is currently being used to study a wide range of science topics in high-energy astrophysics, one of which is the study of high-energy cosmic rays. The LAT has recently demonstrated its ability to measure cosmic-ray electrons, and the Fermi LAT Collaboration has published a measurement of the high-energy cosmic-ray electron spectrum in the 20 GeV to 1 TeV energy range. Some methods for performing a similar analysis to measure the cosmic-ray proton spectrum using the LAT will be presented with emphasis on unfolding the reconstructed proton energy.