A new balloon base in Japan

et al. 2014

Astroparticle Physics

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The General AntiParticle Spectrometer experiment (GAPS) is foreseen to carry out a dark matter search using low-energy cosmic ray antideuterons at stratospheric altitudes with a novel detection approach. A prototype flight from Taiki, Japan was carried out in June 2012 to prove the performance of the GAPS instrument subsystems (Lithium-drifted Silicon tracker and time-of-flight) and the thermal cooling concept as well as to measure background levels. The flight was a success and the stable flight operation of the GAPS detector concept was proven. During the flight about $10^6$ charged particle triggers were recorded, extensive X-ray calibrations of the individual tracker modules were performed by using an onboard X-ray tube, and the background level of atmospheric and cosmic X-rays was measured. The behavior of the tracker performance as a function of temperature was investigated. The tracks of charged particle events were reconstructed and used to study the tracking resolution, the detection efficiency of the tracker, and coherent X-ray backgrounds. A timing calibration of the time-of-flight subsystem was performed to measure the particle velocity. The flux as a function of flight altitude and as a function of velocity was extracted taking into account systematic instrumental effects. The developed analysis techniques will form the basis for future flights.Comment: accepted for publication by Astroparticle Physics: 33 pages, 36 figure

Section: Flightmentioning

confidence: 99%

The flight of the GAPS prototype experiment

Doetinchem

et al. 2014

Astroparticle Physics

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“…The pGAPS payload was successfully launched on June 3, 2012 at 4:55 a.m. JST from Taiki, Japan [25], which is on the east coast of the island of Hokkaido. The exact launch location was at a latitude of 42.50 • N and a longitude of 143.43 • E. The balloon drifted out over the Pacific at so-called boomerang altitudes of 12-15 km before releasing more ballast and going up to the float altitude of 33 km [26].…”

Section: The Pgaps Flight and Preliminary Analysismentioning

confidence: 99%

The prototype GAPS (pGAPS) experiment

Mognet

Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research Section A:

et al. 2014

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The General Antiparticle Spectrometer (GAPS) experiment is a novel approach for the detection of cosmic ray antiparticles. A prototype GAPS experiment (pGAPS) was successfully flown on a high-altitude balloon in June of 2012. The goals of the pGAPS experiment were: to test the operation of lithium drifted silicon (Si(Li)) detectors at balloon altitudes, to validate the thermal model and cooling concept needed for engineering of a full-size GAPS instrument, and to characterize cosmic ray and X-ray backgrounds. The instrument was launched from the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency's (JAXA) Taiki Aerospace Research Field in Hokkaido, Japan. The flight lasted a total of 6 hours, with over 3 hours at float altitude (∼33 km). Over one million cosmic ray triggers were recorded and all flight goals were met or exceeded.

“…pGAPS aims to verify and demonstrate the basic performance of each GAPS subsystem in balloon-flight conditions. The pGAPS flight has been prepared to be launched from Taiki Aerospace Research Field (TARF), a JAXA's scientific balloon facility at Taiki, Hokkaido (Fuke et al, 2010). pGAPS cannot detect antiprotons nor antideuterons for the following three reasons: (i) high geomagnetic rigidity cutoff (around 8 GV for 50% cutoff), (ii) short flight time (around 3 hours at level altitude), and (iii) a small detector acceptance (around 0.054 m 2 sr).…”

Section: Engineering Flight "Pgaps"mentioning

confidence: 99%

The pGAPS experiment: An engineering balloon flight of prototype GAPS

Fuke

Advances in Space Research

et al. 2014

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The General Anti-Particle Spectrometer (GAPS) project is being carried out to search for primary cosmic-ray antiparticles especially for antideuterons produced by cold dark matter. GAPS plans to realize the science observation by Antarctic long duration balloon flights in the late 2010s. In preparation for the Antarctic science flights, an engineering balloon flight using a prototype of the GAPS instrument, "pGAPS", was successfully carried out in June 2012 in Japan to verify the basic performance of each GAPS subsystem. The outline of the pGAPS flight campaign is briefly reported.