Fundamental Physics with Galactic Cosmic Rays from Space Platforms: Current Status and Future Opportunities

by Dr Casaus Jorge (CIEMAT)

Monday 17 Dec 2018, 11:30 → 13:00 Europe/Madrid

IFAE Seminar Room

The recent measurements of the cosmic ray fluxes performed with state-of-the-art space borne instruments have revealed the existence of unexpected structures that can be hardly reconciled with our current understanding of galactic cosmic ray production and propagation. The positron and electron spectra show distinctive features at energies below ~1 TeV which may indicate the presence of additional primary sources. Moreover, protons and light nuclei show progressive hardening above ~100 GeV, which may also arise from the presence of local sources or indicate a transition in their propagation regime. Additional precise measurements of individual cosmic ray species in an extended energy range will be required to disentangle the origin of these features and, in particular, their connection with new physics or exotic astrophysical sources. In this seminar, the latest measurements from instruments currently in operation (AMS, CALET, DAMPE...) will be reviewed and the new opportunities for future space borne detectors, such as HERD proposed for the Chinese Space Station, will be presented.