Measurement of the cosmic p+He energy spectrum from 50 GeV to 0.5 PeV with the DAMPE space mission

Abstract

Recent observations of the light component of the cosmic-ray spectrum have revealed unexpected features that motivate further and more precise measurements up to the highest energies. The Dark Matter Particle Explorer is a satellite-based cosmic-ray experiment that has been operational since December 2015, continuously collecting data on high-energy cosmic particles with very good statistics, energy resolution, and particle identification capabilities. In this work, the latest measurements of the energy spectrum of proton+helium in the energy range from 46 GeV to 464 TeV are presented. Among the most distinctive features of the spectrum, a spectral hardening at 600 GeV has been observed, along with a softening at 29 TeV measured with a 6.6σ significance. Moreover, the detector features and the analysis approach allowed for the extension of the spectral measurement up to the sub-PeV region. Even if with small statistical significance due to the low number of events, data suggest a new spectral hardening at about 150 TeV.

arXiv commentPublished on PRD

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Cited by in corpus (9)

• Investigating the CREDIT history of supernova remnants as cosmic-ray sources
• PSF Calibration of DAMPE for gamma-ray Observations
• Determination of the absolute energy scale of the DAMPE calorimeter with the geomagnetic rigidity cutoff method
• Precise Measurement of the Cosmic Ray Helium Spectrum above 0.1 PeV
• Observation of the Crab Nebula with the Single-Mirror Small-Size Telescope stereoscopic system at low altitude
• Machine-learning correction for the calorimeter saturation of cosmic-ray ions with the Dark Matter Particle Explorer: towards the PeV scale
• Deciphering the spectral bumps of Galactic cosmic rays through gamma-ray observations of nearby molecular clouds
• Stochastic modelling of cosmic-ray sources for Galactic diffuse emissions
• Investigation of hadronic cross sections of cosmic ray carbon and oxygen on BGO from 200 GeV to 10 TeV energy at the DAMPE experiment