1. |
- Mikhailov, V., et al.
(author)
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Measurements of electron and positron fluxes below the geomagnetic cutoff by the PAMELA magnetic spectrometer
- 2017
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In: Proceedings of Science. - : Sissa Medialab Srl.
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Conference paper (peer-reviewed)abstract
- We present a measurements of electron and positron fluxes below the geomagnetic cutoff rigidity in wide energy range from 50 MeV to several GeVs by the PAMELA magnetic spectrometer. The instrument was launched on June 15th 2006 on-board the Resurs-DK satellite on low orbit with 70 degrees inclination and altitude between 350 and 600 km. Features of spatial distributions of secondary electrons and positrons in the near Earth space, including the South Atlantic Anomaly, were investigated in terms of lifetime and geographical origin. The separation in stably trapped, long lifetime quasi-trapped, and short lifetime albedo components was performed on base of back tracing procedure in geomagnetic field. A significant difference in relative abundance of positrons with respect to electrons is seen for the stable trapped and the quasi-trapped populations what pointing out on differences in trapping mechanism of those populations.
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2. |
- Adriani, O., et al.
(author)
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MEASUREMENTS OF COSMIC-RAY HYDROGEN AND HELIUM ISOTOPES WITH THE PAMELA EXPERIMENT
- 2016
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In: Astrophysical Journal. - 0004-637X .- 1538-4357. ; 818:1
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The cosmic-ray hydrogen and helium (H-1, H-2, He-3, He-4) isotopic composition has been measured with the satellite-borne experiment PAMELA, which was launched into low-Earth orbit on board the Resurs-DK1 satellite on 2006 June 15. The rare isotopes H-2 and He-3 in cosmic rays are believed to originate mainly from the interaction of high-energy protons and helium with the galactic interstellar medium. The isotopic composition was measured between 100 and 1100 MeV/n for hydrogen and between 100 and 1400 MeV/n for helium isotopes using two different detector systems over the 23rd solar minimum from 2006 July to 2007 December.
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3. |
- Adriani, O., et al.
(author)
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Pamela's measurements of magnetospheric effects on high-energy solar particles
- 2015
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In: Astrophysical Journal Letters. - 2041-8205 .- 2041-8213. ; 801:1
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The nature of particle acceleration at the Sun, whether through flare reconnection processes or through shocks driven by coronal mass ejections, is still under scrutiny despite decades of research. The measured properties of solar energetic particles (SEPs) have long been modeled in different particle-acceleration scenarios. The challenge has been to disentangle the effects of transport from those of acceleration. The Payload for Antimatter Matter Exploration and Light-nuclei Astrophysics (PAMELA) instrument enables unique observations of SEPs including the composition and angular distribution of the particles about the magnetic field, i.e., pitch angle distribution, over a broad energy range (>80 MeV)-bridging a critical gap between space-based and ground-based measurements. We present high-energy SEP data from PAMELA acquired during the 2012 May 17 SEP event. These data exhibit differential anisotropies and thus transport features over the instrument rigidity range. SEP protons exhibit two distinct pitch angle distributions: a low-energy population that extends to 90 degrees and a population that is beamed at high energies (>1 GeV), consistent with neutron monitor measurements. To explain a low-energy SEP population that exhibits significant scattering or redistribution accompanied by a high-energy population that reaches the Earth relatively unaffected by dispersive transport effects, we postulate that the scattering or redistribution takes place locally. We believe that these are the first comprehensive measurements of the effects of solar energetic particle transport in the Earth's magnetosheath.
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4. |
- Adriani, O., et al.
(author)
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Reentrant albedo proton fluxes measured by the PAMELA experiment
- 2015
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In: Journal of Geophysical Research - Space Physics. - 2169-9380 .- 2169-9402. ; 120:5, s. 3728-3738
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- We present a precise measurement of downward going albedo proton fluxes for kinetic energy above similar to 70 MeV performed by the Payload for Antimatter Matter Exploration and Light-nuclei Astrophysics (PAMELA) experiment at an altitude between 350 and 610 km. On the basis of a trajectory tracing simulation, the analyzed protons were classified into quasi-trapped, concentrating in the magnetic equatorial region, and untrapped spreading over all latitudes, including both short-lived (precipitating) and long-lived (pseudotrapped) components. In addition, features of the penumbra region around the geomagnetic cutoff were investigated in detail. PAMELA results significantly improve the characterization of the high-energy albedo proton populations at low-Earth orbits.
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5. |
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6. |
- Adriani, O., et al.
(author)
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Ten years of PAMELA in space
- 2017
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In: La Rivista del nuovo cimento della Società italiana di fisica. - : Società Italiana di Fisica. - 0393-697X .- 1826-9850. ; 40:10, s. 473-522
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The PAMELA cosmic-ray detector was launched on June 15th 2006 on board the Russian Resurs-DK1 satellite, and during ten years of nearly continuous data-taking it has observed new interesting features in cosmic rays (CRs). In a decade of operation it has provided plenty of scientific data, covering different issues related to cosmic-ray physics. Its discoveries might change our basic vision of the mechanisms of production, acceleration and propagation of cosmic rays in the Galaxy. The antimatter measurements, focus of the experiment, have set strong constraints to the nature of Dark Matter. Search for signatures of more exotic processes (such as the ones involving Strange Quark Matter) was also pursued. Furthermore, the long-term operation of the instrument had allowed a constant monitoring of the solar activity during its maximum and a detailed and prolonged study of the solar modulation, improving the comprehension of the heliosphere mechanisms. PAMELA had also measured the radiation environment around the Earth, and it detected for the first time the presence of an antiproton radiation belt surrounding our planet. The operation of Resurs-DK1 was terminated in 2016. In this article we will review the main features of the PAMELA instrument and its constructing phases. The main part of the article will be dedicated to the summary of the most relevant PAMELA results over a decade of observation.
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7. |
- Adriani, O., et al.
(author)
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Time Dependence of the Electron and Positron Components of the Cosmic Radiation Measured by the PAMELA Experiment between July 2006 and December 2015
- 2016
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In: Physical Review Letters. - 0031-9007 .- 1079-7114. ; 116:24
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Cosmic-ray electrons and positrons are a unique probe of the propagation of cosmic rays as well as of the nature and distribution of particle sources in our Galaxy. Recent measurements of these particles are challenging our basic understanding of the mechanisms of production, acceleration, and propagation of cosmic rays. Particularly striking are the differences between the low energy results collected by the space-borne PAMELA and AMS-02 experiments and older measurements pointing to sign-charge dependence of the solar modulation of cosmic-ray spectra. The PAMELA experiment has been measuring the time variation of the positron and electron intensity at Earth from July 2006 to December 2015 covering the period for the minimum of solar cycle 23 (2006-2009) until the middle of the maximum of solar cycle 24, through the polarity reversal of the heliospheric magnetic field which took place between 2013 and 2014. The positron to electron ratio measured in this time period clearly shows a sign-charge dependence of the solar modulation introduced by particle drifts. These results provide the first clear and continuous observation of how drift effects on solar modulation have unfolded with time from solar minimum to solar maximum and their dependence on the particle rigidity and the cyclic polarity of the solar magnetic field.
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8. |
- Adriani, O., et al.
(author)
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Unexpected Cyclic Behavior in Cosmic-Ray Protons Observed by PAMELA at 1 au
- 2018
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In: Astrophysical Journal Letters. - : IOP PUBLISHING LTD. - 2041-8205 .- 2041-8213. ; 852:2
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Protons detected by the PAMELA experiment in the period 2006-2014 have been analyzed in the energy range between 0.40 and 50 GV to explore possible periodicities besides the well known solar undecennial modulation. An unexpected clear and regular feature has been found at rigidities below 15 GV, with a quasi-periodicity of similar to 450 days. A possible Jovian origin of this periodicity has been investigated in different ways. The results seem to favor a small but not negligible contribution to cosmic rays from the Jovian magnetosphere, even if other explanations cannot be excluded.
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9. |
- Boezio, M., et al.
(author)
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Nine years of cosmic rays investigation by the PAMELA experiment
- 2015
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In: Proceedings of Science. - : Proceedings of Science (PoS).
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Conference paper (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The PAMELA cosmic ray detector was launched on June 15th of 2006 on board the Russian Resurs-DK1 satellite and during nine years of continuous data-taking it has ob- served very interesting features in cosmic rays, namely in the fluxes of protons, helium and electrons. Its discoveries might change our basic vision of the mechanisms of pro- duction, acceleration and propagation of cosmic rays in the Galaxy. Moreover, PAMELA measurements of cosmic antiproton and positron fluxes and positron-to-all-electron ratio have been setting strong constraints to the nature of Dark Matter. Measurements of boron, carbon, lithium and beryllium (together with the isotopic fraction) will also shed new light on the elemental composition of the cosmic radiation. Search for signatures of more exotic processes (such as the ones involving Strange Quark Matter) is also pursued. Furthermore, the instrument is still functional allowing a constant monitoring of the solar activity during its maximum and a detailed and prolonged study of the solar modulation, improving the comprehension of the heliosphere mechanisms. PAMELA is also measur- ing the radiation environment around the Earth, and it detected for the first time the presence of an antiproton radiation belt surrounding our planet. In this highlight paper PAMELA main results will be reviewed.
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10. |
- Boezio, M., et al.
(author)
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The PAMELA experiment : A cosmic ray experiment deep inside the heliosphere
- 2017
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In: Proceedings of Science. - : Sissa Medialab Srl.
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Conference paper (peer-reviewed)abstract
- It was the 15th of June of 2006 when the PAMELA satellite-borne experiment was launched from the Baikonur cosmodrome in Kazakstan. Then, for nearly ten years, PAMELA has been making high-precision measurements of the charged component of the cosmic radiation opening a new era of precision studies in cosmic rays and challenging our basic vision of the mechanisms of production, acceleration and propagation of cosmic rays in the galaxy and in the heliosphere. The study of the time dependence of the various components of the cosmic radiation from the unusual 23rd solar minimum through the maximum of solar cycle 24 clearly shows solar modulation effects as well as charge sign dependence. PAMELA measurement of the energy spectra during solar energetic particle events fills the existing energy gap between the highest energy particles measured in space and the ground-based domain. Finally, by sampling the particle radiation in different regions of the magnetosphere, PAMELA data provide a detailed study of the Earth s magnetosphere. In this highlight paper, PAMELA main results as well as recent progress about solar and heliospheric physics with PAMELA will be presented.
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