Cosmic Ray Astrophysics with AMS-02

Abstract

The Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer (AMS) is a cosmic ray (CR) experiment that will operate on the International Space Station for three years, measuring the particle spectra in the rigidity range from 0.2 GV to 2 TV. The AMS-02 detector will provide measurements with unprecedented statistics of the hadronic and leptonic cosmic rays, allowing for a better study of the Earth magnetosphere through the secondaries produced by CR interactions in the atmosphere; of the solar system environment through the measurement of the solar modulation over a long period; of the solar system neighborhood through the measurement of the ratio between unstable isotopes and stable elements; of the interstellar medium of our Galaxy through the ratio between secondary and primary isotopes and the measurement of proton and helium spectra.