Abstract
A series of Balloon-borne Experiments with a Superconducting Spectrometer, BESS, has been made since 1993. We report here the absolute cosmic-ray proton and helium spectra in energy ranges of 1 to 120 GeV and 1 to 54 GeV/nucleon, respectively, as measured by the 1998 balloon flight of the BESS spectrometer. Those spectra were determined within overall uncertainties of ±5 % for protons and ±10 % for helium nuclei including statistical and systematic errors. The covered energy range is relevant to the atmospheric neutrinos observed as "fully contained events" in Super-Kamiokande. In order to extend the energy range up to around 1 TeV, we have started to design and develop new tracking detectors. Those energy spectra in a higher energy region will help to estimate the interstellar spectra of primary cosmic rays and the absolute fluxes of "up-going muons."
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 761-766 |
Number of pages | 6 |
Journal | Advances in Space Research |
Volume | 27 |
Issue number | 4 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 2001 |
Externally published | Yes |
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Aerospace Engineering
- Astronomy and Astrophysics
- Geophysics
- Atmospheric Science
- Space and Planetary Science
- Earth and Planetary Sciences(all)