Electron and positron fluxes in primary cosmic rays measured with the alpha magnetic spectrometer on the international space station

AMS Collaboration, Liqiu Wang

Research output: Journal article publicationJournal articleAcademic researchpeer-review

517 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Precision measurements by the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer on the International Space Station of the primary cosmic-ray electron flux in the range 0.5 to 700 GeV and the positron flux in the range 0.5 to 500 GeV are presented. The electron flux and the positron flux each require a description beyond a single power-law spectrum. Both the electron flux and the positron flux change their behavior at ∼30GeV but the fluxes are significantly different in their magnitude and energy dependence. Between 20 and 200 GeV the positron spectral index is significantly harder than the electron spectral index. The determination of the differing behavior of the spectral indices versus energy is a new observation and provides important information on the origins of cosmic-ray electrons and positrons.

Original languageEnglish
Article number121102
JournalPhysical Review Letters
Volume113
Issue number12
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 18 Sept 2014
Externally publishedYes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Physics and Astronomy

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Electron and positron fluxes in primary cosmic rays measured with the alpha magnetic spectrometer on the international space station'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this