Cosmics and gamma rays physics - CIEMAT Particle Physics
Cosmic and gamma ray physics
Fundamental questions on astroparticle physics might get resolved through the study of cosmic rays. AMS (Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer) is a high energy particle physics detector designed to conduct a unique long duration mission of fundamental physics research from space. The purpose of the experiment is to perform a high precision measurement of cosmic rays, up to the TeV energy region, on the International Space Station (ISS). Among the physics objectives of AMS are a search for Dark Matter, Antimatter, the study of propagation of cosmic rays and the exploration of new scientific phenomena that cannot be achieved on ground based experiments.
The observation of the sky by means of very high energy gamma ray telescopes seeks the understanding of the origin of cosmic rays and the role they play in the universe, the understanding of nature, the variety of particle acceleration mechanisms around black holes and the search for the ultimate nature of matter and physics beyond the Standard Model of particle physics. CIEMAT is a member of the collaboration that has built and operates the two MAGIC telescopes (Major Atmospheric Gamma-ray Imaging Cherenkov) on the island of La Palma, pioneers in the detection of gamma rays between 10 and 100 GeV, and participates in the CTA (Cherenkov Telescope Array) project, an initiative to build a state-of-the-art gamma ray detection instrument. CTA will be established as an open observatory for a broad community of astrophysicists and will provide a deep insight into the high-energy non-thermal universe.
AMS is a primary charged cosmic rays detector located in the International Space Station.
CTA is a Cerenkov Telescope Array designed to detect high energy gamma rays.