Search for Cosmic-Ray Antideuterons with the AMS-02 Experiment on the International Space Station

Abstract

The AMS-02 experiment has been measuring the comic-ray spectrum since its installation on the International Space Station in May 2011. This dissertation presents the results of a low-energy antiparticle analysis. The first part of this dissertation investigates the low-energy Galactic antiproton flux. Details of the analysis variables are explained. Further described are the techniques used to determine the true energy spectrum of the measured antiprotons. The analysis result is presented. Compared to the previously published results from AMS-02, the low-energy antiproton flux has been extended down to 0.85 GeV/c. The second part of this dissertation focused on the low-energy Galactic antideuteron analysis. A method was developed to suppress the antiproton background using energy depositions. The anaysis variables were also improved from the antiproton analysis. A Galactic antideuteron exclusion limit was set at 1.23 x 10^{-5} [(GeV/n) m^{2} sr s]^{-1}. Predictions were then made on the AMS-02 antideuteron discovery sensitivity through 2024 and 2030.