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Research project (1 month) |
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Laboratoire
de Physique Nucléaire des Hautes Energies LPNHE-X
Ecole Polytechnique, Palaiseau,
FRANCE |
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| Antimatter research in telescopic measurements
of the cosmic radiations |
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| The aim of the research project
named ARTEMIS (Anti-matter Research Through
the Earth Moon Ion Spectrometer) was
to detect in the cosmic radiations the presence of
antimatter particles (especially extragalactic antiprotons).
Such presence would represent an important presumption for the existence
of antigalaxies. The method consists in observing the curvature
of cosmic particles submitted to the Earth's magnetic field with
the occultation effect of the Moon. Even if the Earth's magnetic
field is very low, it can be used over thousand kilometers to deflect
charged particles which have a very high energy (TeV) close to the
earth. In order to determine the particles direction before deflection,
a collimator is necessary. The moon plays this role but reversed.
Indeed, it hides a part of the cosmic radiations that reach the
Earth. Then, a deficit of particles ("shadows") can be
measured in the isotrope back radiation. The depth of this "hole"
corresponds to the cosmic particles flux that is studied. But in
order to facilitate the study, the moon can be supposed as the only
light source (nothing comes from space) in others words the presence
and the absence of the particles are inverted. The moon is too lightly
in regards to the Cerenkov radiations to observe. However, the ozone
layer plays the role of an UV filter. During this month, the work
performed consisted in selecting and analysing telescopic measurements
of the Cerenkov light. A global parametric study
(using the mathematical software called paw) has been made
in order to eliminate the "noise" induced by the moon,
and to evaluate the telescope elevation. Finally, the aim was to
localize the presence of protons and antiprotons. |
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