The Results from BESS-Polar Experiment

Authors

K. Abe, Kobe University
H. Fuke, Institute of Space and Astronautical Science, Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency
S. Haino, High Energy Accelerator Research Organization
T. Hams, NASA-Goddard Space Flight Center
M. Hasegawa, High Energy Accelerator Research Organization
K. C. Kim, University of Maryland
M. H. Lee, University of Maryland
Y. Makida, High Energy Accelerator Research Organization
J. W. Mitchell, NASA-Goddard Space Flight Center
J. Nishimura, The University of Tokyo
M. Nozaki, High Energy Accelerator Research Organization
R. Orito, Kobe University
J. F. Ormes, University of DenverFollow
N. Picot-Clemente, University of Maryland
K. Sakai, NASA-Goddard Space Flight Center
M. Sasaki, NASA-Goddard Space Flight Center
E. S. Seo, University of Maryland
R. E. Streitmatter, NASA-Goddard Space Flight Center
J. Suzuki, High Energy Accelerator Research Organization
K. Tanaka, High Energy Accelerator Research Organization
N. Thakur, NASA-Goddard Space Flight Center
A. Yamamoto, High Energy Accelerator Research Organization
T. Yoshida, Institute of Space and Astronautical Science, Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency
K. Yoshimura, Okayama University

Publication Date

8-2017

Document Type

Article

Organizational Units

College of Natual Science and Mathematics, Physics and Astronomy

Keywords

Cosmic rays, Antiproton, Antimatter, Proton, Helium, Primordial black hole, Solar modulation

Abstract

The balloon-borne experiment with a superconducting spectrometer (BESS) instrument was developed as a high-resolution, high-geometric-acceptance magnetic-rigidity spectrometer for sensitive measurements of cosmic-ray antiparticles, searches for antinuclei, and precise measurements of the absolute fluxes of light GCR elements and isotopes. The original BESS experiment flew 8 times over Lynn Lake, Canada and once from Fort Sumner, USA during the period of 1993 through 2002, with continuous improvement in the instrument. Based on the instrument concept inherited from the BESS spectrometer, a very low instrumental energy cutoff for antiprotons was achieved with a new thin-walled superconducting magnet and removal of the outer pressure vessel for BESS-Polar project. The first and second scientific flights called BESS-Polar I/II were successfully performed, over Antarctica in 2004 December and 2007 December respectively. We report the scientific results, focusing on the long-duration flights of BESS-Polar I (2004) and BESS-Polar II (2007–2008).

Publication Statement

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Recommended Citation

Abe, K, Fuke, H, Haino, S, Hams, T, Hasegawa, M, Kim, K.C, Lee, M.H, Makida, Y, Mitchell, J.W, Nishimura, J, Nozaki, M, Orito, R, Ormes, J.F, Picot-Clemente, N, Sakai, K, Sasaki, M, Seo, E.S, Streitmatter, R.E, Suzuki, J, Tanaka, K, Thakur, N, Yamamoto, A, Yoshida, T, and Yoshimura, K. "The Results from BESS-Polar Experiment." Advances in Space Research 60.4 (2017): 806-14. Web. doi: 10.1016/j.asr.2016.11.004.