Design and test results of the AMS RICH detector

TL;DR

The paper discusses the design, testing, and expected scientific contributions of the AMS RICH detector, a key component for cosmic ray measurements aboard the ISS, including its velocity and charge measurement capabilities.

Contribution

It presents the design and test results of a novel RICH detector prototype for cosmic ray detection on the ISS.

Findings

Prototype successfully tested with cosmic rays and CERN ion beams.

Achieved velocity measurement precision of approximately 0.1%.

Demonstrated capability to discriminate isotopes and measure elemental composition.

Abstract

The AMS-02 detector will operate for at least 3 years on the International Space Station, measuring cosmic ray spectra at about 400 km above sea level over a wide range of geomagnetic latitude. The proximity focusing ring imaging \v{C}erenkov counter of AMS-02 will measure the particle velocity $\beta$ with $\approx 0.1%$ uncertainty, making possible to discriminate Beryllium isotopes up to about 15 GeV/nucl. In addition its charge measurement will allow to study the elemental composition of cosmic rays up to Iron. A prototype of the RICH detector was tested with cosmic rays and on a ion beam accelerated by SPS, at CERN (October 2002).