Measurements of 0.2-20 GeV/n cosmic-ray proton and helium spectra from 1997 through 2002 with the BESS spectrometer

Y. Shikaze, S. Haino, K. Abe, H. Fuke, T. Hams, K. C. Kim, Y. Makida, S. Matsuda, J. W. Mitchell, A. A. Moiseev, J. Nishimura, M. Nozaki, S. Orito, J. F. Ormes, T. Sanuki, M. Sasaki, E. S. Seo, R. E. Streitmatter, J. Suzuki, K. TanakaT. Yamagami, A. Yamamoto, T. Yoshida, K. Yoshimura

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Abstract

We measured low energy cosmic-ray proton and helium spectra in the kinetic energy range 0.215-21.5 GeV/n at different solar activities during a period from 1997 to 2002. The observations were carried out with the BESS spectrometer launched on a balloon at Lynn Lake, Canada. A calculation for the correction of secondary particle backgrounds from the overlying atmosphere was improved by using the measured spectra at small atmospheric depths ranging from 5 through 37 g/cm2. The uncertainties including statistical and systematic errors of the obtained spectra at the top of atmosphere are 5-7% for protons and 6-9% for helium nuclei in the energy range 0.5-5 GeV/n.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)154-167
Number of pages14
JournalAstroparticle Physics
Volume28
Issue number1
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2007 Sept

Keywords

  • Atmospheric proton
  • Cosmic-ray helium
  • Cosmic-ray proton
  • Solar modulation
  • Superconducting spectrometer

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