Cosmic antihelium-3 nuclei sensitivity of the GAPS experiment

N. Saffold; T. Aramaki; R. Bird; M. Boezio; S. E. Boggs; V. Bonvicini; D. Campana; W. W. Craig; P. von Doetinchem; E. Everson; L. Fabris; H. Fuke; F. Gahbauer; I. Garcia; C. Gerrity; C. J. Hailey; T. Hayashi; C. Kato; A. Kawachi; S. Kobayashi; M. Kozai; A. Lenni; A. Lowell; M. Manghisoni; N. Marcelli; S. I. Mognet; K. Munakata; R. Munini; Y. Nakagami; J. Olson; R. A. Ong; G. Osteria; K. Perez; I. Pope; S. Quinn; V. Re; M. Reed; E. Riceputi; B. Roach; F. Rogers; J. L. Ryan; V. Scotti; Y. Shimizu; M. Sonzogni; R. Sparvoli; A. Stoessl; A. Tiberio; E. Vannuccini; T. Wada; M. Xiao; M. Yamatani; A. Yoshida; T. Yoshida; G. Zampa; J. Zweerink

doi:10.1016/j.astropartphys.2021.102580

Cosmic antihelium-3 nuclei sensitivity of the GAPS experiment

N. Saffold, T. Aramaki, R. Bird, M. Boezio, S. E. Boggs, V. Bonvicini, D. Campana, W. W. Craig, P. von Doetinchem, E. Everson, L. Fabris, H. Fuke, F. Gahbauer, I. Garcia, C. Gerrity, C. J. Hailey, T. Hayashi, C. Kato, A. Kawachi, S. KobayashiM. Kozai, A. Lenni, A. Lowell, M. Manghisoni, N. Marcelli, S. I. Mognet, K. Munakata, R. Munini, Y. Nakagami, J. Olson, R. A. Ong, G. Osteria, K. Perez, I. Pope, S. Quinn, V. Re, M. Reed, E. Riceputi, B. Roach, F. Rogers, J. L. Ryan, V. Scotti, Y. Shimizu, M. Sonzogni, R. Sparvoli, A. Stoessl, A. Tiberio, E. Vannuccini, T. Wada, M. Xiao, M. Yamatani, A. Yoshida, T. Yoshida, G. Zampa, J. Zweerink

Radiation Imaging and Advanced Diagnosti

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

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Abstract

The General Antiparticle Spectrometer (GAPS) is an Antarctic balloon experiment designed for low-energy (0.1–0.3 GeV/n) cosmic antinuclei as signatures of dark matter annihilation or decay. GAPS is optimized to detect low-energy antideuterons, as well as to provide unprecedented sensitivity to low-energy antiprotons and antihelium nuclei. The novel GAPS antiparticle detection technique, based on the formation, decay, and annihilation of exotic atoms, provides greater identification power for these low-energy antinuclei than previous magnetic spectrometer experiments. This work reports the sensitivity of GAPS to detect antihelium-3 nuclei, based on full instrument simulation, event reconstruction, and realistic atmospheric influence simulations. The report of antihelium nuclei candidate events by AMS-02 has generated considerable interest in antihelium nuclei as probes of dark matter and other beyond the Standard Model theories. GAPS is in a unique position to detect or set upper limits on the cosmic antihelium nuclei flux in an energy range that is essentially free of astrophysical background. In three 35-day long-duration balloon flights, GAPS will be sensitive to an antihelium flux on the level of 1.3_−1.2^+4.5·10⁻⁶ m^-2sr^-1s^-1(GeV/n)^-1 (95% confidence level) in the energy range of 0.11–0.3 GeV/n, opening a new window on rare cosmic physics.

Original language	English
Article number	102580
Journal	Astroparticle Physics
Volume	130
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.astropartphys.2021.102580
State	Published - Jul 2021

Funding

This work is supported in the U.S. by NASA APRA grants (NNX17AB44G, NNX17AB45G, NNX17AB46G, and NNX17AB47G) and in Japan by JAXA/ISAS Small Science Program FY2017. P. von Doetinchem received support from the National Science Foundation under award PHY-1551980 . H. Fuke is supported by JSPS KAKENHI grants ( JP17H01136 and JP19H05198 ) and Mitsubishi Foundation Research Grant 2019-10038. K. Perez and M. Xiao are supported by Heising-Simons award 2018-0766. F. Rogers is supported through the National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship under Grant No. 1122374 . Y. Shimizu receives support from JSPS KAKENHI grant JP20K04002 and Sumitomo Foundation Grant No. 180322. This work is supported in Italy by Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare (INFN) and by the Italian Space Agency through the ASI INFN agreement no. 2018-28-HH.0: “Partecipazione italiana al GAPS - General AntiParticle Spectrometer”. The technical support and advanced computing resources from the University of Hawaii Information Technology Services – Cyberinfrastructure are gratefully acknowledged.

Keywords

Antihelium nuclei
Antiparticle
Balloon-borne instrumentation
Cosmic ray
Dark matter
GAPS

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Saffold, N., Aramaki, T., Bird, R., Boezio, M., Boggs, S. E., Bonvicini, V., Campana, D., Craig, W. W., von Doetinchem, P., Everson, E., Fabris, L., Fuke, H., Gahbauer, F., Garcia, I., Gerrity, C., Hailey, C. J., Hayashi, T., Kato, C., Kawachi, A., ... Zweerink, J. (2021). Cosmic antihelium-3 nuclei sensitivity of the GAPS experiment. Astroparticle Physics, 130, Article 102580. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.astropartphys.2021.102580

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title = "Cosmic antihelium-3 nuclei sensitivity of the GAPS experiment",

abstract = "The General Antiparticle Spectrometer (GAPS) is an Antarctic balloon experiment designed for low-energy (0.1–0.3 GeV/n) cosmic antinuclei as signatures of dark matter annihilation or decay. GAPS is optimized to detect low-energy antideuterons, as well as to provide unprecedented sensitivity to low-energy antiprotons and antihelium nuclei. The novel GAPS antiparticle detection technique, based on the formation, decay, and annihilation of exotic atoms, provides greater identification power for these low-energy antinuclei than previous magnetic spectrometer experiments. This work reports the sensitivity of GAPS to detect antihelium-3 nuclei, based on full instrument simulation, event reconstruction, and realistic atmospheric influence simulations. The report of antihelium nuclei candidate events by AMS-02 has generated considerable interest in antihelium nuclei as probes of dark matter and other beyond the Standard Model theories. GAPS is in a unique position to detect or set upper limits on the cosmic antihelium nuclei flux in an energy range that is essentially free of astrophysical background. In three 35-day long-duration balloon flights, GAPS will be sensitive to an antihelium flux on the level of 1.3−1.2+4.5·10−6 m-2sr-1s-1(GeV/n)-1 (95% confidence level) in the energy range of 0.11–0.3 GeV/n, opening a new window on rare cosmic physics.",

keywords = "Antihelium nuclei, Antiparticle, Balloon-borne instrumentation, Cosmic ray, Dark matter, GAPS",

author = "N. Saffold and T. Aramaki and R. Bird and M. Boezio and Boggs, {S. E.} and V. Bonvicini and D. Campana and Craig, {W. W.} and {von Doetinchem}, P. and E. Everson and L. Fabris and H. Fuke and F. Gahbauer and I. Garcia and C. Gerrity and Hailey, {C. J.} and T. Hayashi and C. Kato and A. Kawachi and S. Kobayashi and M. Kozai and A. Lenni and A. Lowell and M. Manghisoni and N. Marcelli and Mognet, {S. I.} and K. Munakata and R. Munini and Y. Nakagami and J. Olson and Ong, {R. A.} and G. Osteria and K. Perez and I. Pope and S. Quinn and V. Re and M. Reed and E. Riceputi and B. Roach and F. Rogers and Ryan, {J. L.} and V. Scotti and Y. Shimizu and M. Sonzogni and R. Sparvoli and A. Stoessl and A. Tiberio and E. Vannuccini and T. Wada and M. Xiao and M. Yamatani and A. Yoshida and T. Yoshida and G. Zampa and J. Zweerink",

note = "Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2021",

year = "2021",

month = jul,

doi = "10.1016/j.astropartphys.2021.102580",

language = "English",

volume = "130",

journal = "Astroparticle Physics",

issn = "0927-6505",

publisher = "Elsevier",

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Saffold, N, Aramaki, T, Bird, R, Boezio, M, Boggs, SE, Bonvicini, V, Campana, D, Craig, WW, von Doetinchem, P, Everson, E, Fabris, L, Fuke, H, Gahbauer, F, Garcia, I, Gerrity, C, Hailey, CJ, Hayashi, T, Kato, C, Kawachi, A, Kobayashi, S, Kozai, M, Lenni, A, Lowell, A, Manghisoni, M, Marcelli, N, Mognet, SI, Munakata, K, Munini, R, Nakagami, Y, Olson, J, Ong, RA, Osteria, G, Perez, K, Pope, I, Quinn, S, Re, V, Reed, M, Riceputi, E, Roach, B, Rogers, F, Ryan, JL, Scotti, V, Shimizu, Y, Sonzogni, M, Sparvoli, R, Stoessl, A, Tiberio, A, Vannuccini, E, Wada, T, Xiao, M, Yamatani, M, Yoshida, A, Yoshida, T, Zampa, G & Zweerink, J 2021, 'Cosmic antihelium-3 nuclei sensitivity of the GAPS experiment', Astroparticle Physics, vol. 130, 102580. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.astropartphys.2021.102580

TY - JOUR

T1 - Cosmic antihelium-3 nuclei sensitivity of the GAPS experiment

AU - Saffold, N.

AU - Aramaki, T.

AU - Bird, R.

AU - Boezio, M.

AU - Boggs, S. E.

AU - Bonvicini, V.

AU - Campana, D.

AU - Craig, W. W.

AU - von Doetinchem, P.

AU - Everson, E.

AU - Fabris, L.

AU - Fuke, H.

AU - Gahbauer, F.

AU - Garcia, I.

AU - Gerrity, C.

AU - Hailey, C. J.

AU - Hayashi, T.

AU - Kato, C.

AU - Kawachi, A.

AU - Kobayashi, S.

AU - Kozai, M.

AU - Lenni, A.

AU - Lowell, A.

AU - Manghisoni, M.

AU - Marcelli, N.

AU - Mognet, S. I.

AU - Munakata, K.

AU - Munini, R.

AU - Nakagami, Y.

AU - Olson, J.

AU - Ong, R. A.

AU - Osteria, G.

AU - Perez, K.

AU - Pope, I.

AU - Quinn, S.

AU - Re, V.

AU - Reed, M.

AU - Riceputi, E.

AU - Roach, B.

AU - Rogers, F.

AU - Ryan, J. L.

AU - Scotti, V.

AU - Shimizu, Y.

AU - Sonzogni, M.

AU - Sparvoli, R.

AU - Stoessl, A.

AU - Tiberio, A.

AU - Vannuccini, E.

AU - Wada, T.

AU - Xiao, M.

AU - Yamatani, M.

AU - Yoshida, A.

AU - Yoshida, T.

AU - Zampa, G.

AU - Zweerink, J.

PY - 2021/7

Y1 - 2021/7

N2 - The General Antiparticle Spectrometer (GAPS) is an Antarctic balloon experiment designed for low-energy (0.1–0.3 GeV/n) cosmic antinuclei as signatures of dark matter annihilation or decay. GAPS is optimized to detect low-energy antideuterons, as well as to provide unprecedented sensitivity to low-energy antiprotons and antihelium nuclei. The novel GAPS antiparticle detection technique, based on the formation, decay, and annihilation of exotic atoms, provides greater identification power for these low-energy antinuclei than previous magnetic spectrometer experiments. This work reports the sensitivity of GAPS to detect antihelium-3 nuclei, based on full instrument simulation, event reconstruction, and realistic atmospheric influence simulations. The report of antihelium nuclei candidate events by AMS-02 has generated considerable interest in antihelium nuclei as probes of dark matter and other beyond the Standard Model theories. GAPS is in a unique position to detect or set upper limits on the cosmic antihelium nuclei flux in an energy range that is essentially free of astrophysical background. In three 35-day long-duration balloon flights, GAPS will be sensitive to an antihelium flux on the level of 1.3−1.2+4.5·10−6 m-2sr-1s-1(GeV/n)-1 (95% confidence level) in the energy range of 0.11–0.3 GeV/n, opening a new window on rare cosmic physics.

AB - The General Antiparticle Spectrometer (GAPS) is an Antarctic balloon experiment designed for low-energy (0.1–0.3 GeV/n) cosmic antinuclei as signatures of dark matter annihilation or decay. GAPS is optimized to detect low-energy antideuterons, as well as to provide unprecedented sensitivity to low-energy antiprotons and antihelium nuclei. The novel GAPS antiparticle detection technique, based on the formation, decay, and annihilation of exotic atoms, provides greater identification power for these low-energy antinuclei than previous magnetic spectrometer experiments. This work reports the sensitivity of GAPS to detect antihelium-3 nuclei, based on full instrument simulation, event reconstruction, and realistic atmospheric influence simulations. The report of antihelium nuclei candidate events by AMS-02 has generated considerable interest in antihelium nuclei as probes of dark matter and other beyond the Standard Model theories. GAPS is in a unique position to detect or set upper limits on the cosmic antihelium nuclei flux in an energy range that is essentially free of astrophysical background. In three 35-day long-duration balloon flights, GAPS will be sensitive to an antihelium flux on the level of 1.3−1.2+4.5·10−6 m-2sr-1s-1(GeV/n)-1 (95% confidence level) in the energy range of 0.11–0.3 GeV/n, opening a new window on rare cosmic physics.

KW - Antihelium nuclei

KW - Antiparticle

KW - Balloon-borne instrumentation

KW - Cosmic ray

KW - Dark matter

KW - GAPS

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DO - 10.1016/j.astropartphys.2021.102580

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AN - SCOPUS:85103948657

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VL - 130

JO - Astroparticle Physics

JF - Astroparticle Physics

M1 - 102580

ER -

Cosmic antihelium-3 nuclei sensitivity of the GAPS experiment

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