Back to the Cosmos with the AMS-02 experiment on the International Space Station

by Dr Sonia Natale (CERN)

Monday Nov 26, 2012, 3:30 PM → 4:30 PM Pacific/Honolulu

112 (Watanabe Hall)

Particle physics has actually started in the heavens, with the detection of charged cosmic rays. Because the experimental conditions are not under control in the skies, particles were accelerated in the laboratory and huge machines have been built, allowing discovery of how the sub-nuclear realm is organized. From the mid 80's until now, astro-particle physics has been a growing field of activity triggering many technical developments and new instruments inventions, with refined methods. As an example the AMS-02 detector, operating on the International Space Station since May 2011, will be presented here. Its physics program, ranging from antimatter and dark matter searches to precision measurements of cosmic rays composition and flux, will also be highlighted.