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.

Published on PRD

References in corpus (13)

• Direct detection of a break in the teraelectronvolt cosmic-ray spectrum of electrons and positrons
• Discrepant hardening observed in cosmic-ray elemental spectra
• The DArk Matter Particle Explorer mission
• Measurement of the cosmic-ray proton spectrum from 40 GeV to 100 TeV with the DAMPE satellite
• Measurement of the cosmic ray helium energy spectrum from 70 GeV to 80 TeV with the DAMPE space mission
• Detection of spectral hardenings in cosmic-ray boron-to-carbon and boron-to-oxygen flux ratios with DAMPE
• Observation of Spectral Structures in the Flux of Cosmic-Ray Protons from 50 GeV to 60 TeV with the Calorimetric Electron Telescope on the International Space Station
• The on-orbit calibration of DArk Matter Particle Explorer
• Direct Measurement of the Cosmic-Ray Helium Spectrum from 40 GeV to 250 TeV with the Calorimetric Electron Telescope on the International Space Station
• Cosmic ray spectrum of protons plus helium nuclei between 6 TeV and 158 TeV from HAWC data
• Correction Method for the Readout Saturation of the DAMPE Calorimeter
• Comparison of proton shower developments in the BGO calorimeter of the Dark Matter Particle Explorer between GEANT4 and FLUKA simulations
• HAWC measurements of the energy spectra of cosmic ray protons, helium and heavy nuclei in the TeV range

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