P. Fusco

Cosmic-ray electron-positron spectrum from 7 GeV to 2 TeV with the Fermi Large Area Telescope

We present a measurement of the cosmic-ray electron+positron spectrum between 7 GeV and 2 TeV performed with almost seven years of data collected with the Fermi Large Area Telescope. We find that the spectrum is well fit by a broken power law with a break energy at about 50 GeV. Above 50 GeV, the spectrum is well described by a single power law with a spectral index of 3.07 ± 0.02 (stat+syst) ± 0.04 (energy measurement). An exponential cutoff lower than 1.8 TeV is excluded at 95% CL. PACS numbers: 98.70.Sa, 96.50.sb, 95.85.Ry, 95.55.Vj

Search for Cosmic-Ray Electron and Positron Anisotropies with Seven Years of Fermi Large Area Telescope Data

The Large Area Telescope on board the Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope has collected the largest ever sample of high-energy cosmic-ray electron and positron events since the beginning of its operation. Potential anisotropies in the arrival directions of cosmic-ray electrons or positrons could be a signature of the presence of nearby sources. We use almost seven years of data with energies above 42xa0GeV processed with the Pass 8 reconstruction. The present data sample can probe dipole anisotropies down to a level of 10^{-3}. We take into account systematic effects that could mimic true anisotropies at this level. We present a detailed study of the event selection optimization of the cosmic-ray electrons and positrons to be used for anisotropy searches. Since no significant anisotropies have been detected on any angular scale, we present upper limits on the dipole anisotropy. The present constraints are among the strongest to date probing the presence of nearby young and middle-aged sources.

A transition radiation detector prototype to measure the energy of muons in cosmic ray laboratories

Abstract We have developed and tested a transition radiation detector prototype suitable to measure the energy of muons in cosmic ray laboratories. The technical solutions adopted, based on extruded tubes as detectors and foam or fiber mats as radiators, allow to cover very large areas with a low number of channels and ensure stability of operation. Using an argon-carbon dioxide gas mixture it is possible to explore the muon energy range up to 1 TeV.

A fast transition radiation detector for high-energy particles selection and triggering

Abstract In this paper we exploit the capability of a transition radiation detector to select different mass particles in a high-energy unseparated beam and to provide a prompt identification signal that can be used as a first level trigger for the physical event acquisition. Various studies on prototypes and measurements on electron/hadron test beams at CERN and BNL are presented: on the basis of the results obtained we show that we can promptly separate electrons from pions starting from 1 GeV/ c momentum and we discuss about the possibility to distinguish as well pions from protons in the hundred GeV/ c range of momentum at the level of a few percent of particle mis-identification.

Environmental Testing of the GLAST Tracker Subsystem

A test sequence that involves functional verification and mechanical thermal properties of the GLAST LAT Tracker has been done, first on Engineering model prototypes, and it will continue on flight hardware. The results of vibration and thermal vacuum tests on the Engineering Model Tower of the GLAST LAT Tracker are presented. The performance expected for silicon detectors as a function of operating temperatures in the mission environment have also been investigated and described.

Performance of the Integrated Tracker Towers of the GLAST Large Area Telescope

The GLAST Large Area Telescope (LAT) is a high energy gamma ray observatory, mounted on a satellite that will be own in 2007. The LAT tracker consists of an array of tower modules, equipped with planes of silicon strip detectors (SSDs) interleaved with tungsten converter layers. Photon detection is based on the pair conversion process; silicon strip detectors will reconstruct tracks of electrons and positrons. The instrument is actually being assembled. The first towers have been already tested and integrated at Stanford Linear Accelerator Center (SLAC). An overview of the integration stages of the main components of the tracker and a description of the pre-launch tests will be given. Experimental results on the performance of the tracker towers will be also discussed.

Environmental Test Activity on the Flight Modules of the GLAST LAT Tracker

The GLAST Large Area Telescope (LAT) is a gamma-ray telescope consisting of a silicon micro-strip detector tracker followed by a segmented CsI calorimeter and covered by a segmented scintillator anticoincidence system that will search for {gamma}-rays in the 20 MeV-300 GeV energy range. The results of the environmental tests performed on the flight modules (towers) of the Tracker are presented. The aim of the environmental tests is to verify the performance of the silicon detectors in the expected mission environment. The tower modules are subjected to dynamic tests that simulate the launch environment and thermal vacuum test that reproduce the thermal gradients expected on orbit. The tower performance is continuously monitored during the whole test sequence. The environmental test activity, the results of the tests and the silicon tracker performance are presented.

First Results From GLAST-LAT Integrated Towers Cosmic Ray Data Taking And Monte Carlo Comparison

GLAST Large Area Telescope (LAT) is a gamma ray telescope instrumented with silicon-strip detector planes and sheets of converter, followed by a calorimeter (CAL) and surrounded by an anticoincidence system (ACD). This instrument is sensitive to gamma rays in the energy range between 20 MeV and 300 GeV. At present, the first towers have been integrated and pre-launch data taking with cosmic ray muons is being performed. The results from the data analysis carried out during LAT integration will be discussed and a comparison with the predictions from the Monte Carlo simulation will be shown.

UNDERGROUND MUON ENERGY SPECTRA WITH THE MACRO TRD

The MACRO detector was located in the Hall B of the Gran Sasso underground Laboratories under an average rock overburden of 3700 hg/cm2. A TRD composed by three identical modules, covering an horizontal area of 36 m2, was added to the MACRO detector in order to measure the residual energy of muons entering MACRO. This kind of measurement provides a useful tool to study the primary cosmic ray energy spectra and composition, their interactions with the Earths atmosphere and the propagation of muons inside the rock. The results of the measurement of the energy of single and double muons crossing MACRO will be presented. Our data show that double muons are more energetic than single ones in the rock depth range from 3000 to 6500 hg/cm2. Single muon data confirm the reliability of the models adopted to describe the cosmic ray interactions with the atmosphere and the muon propagation inside the rock.

A fast transition radiation detector for first-level triggering

Abstract We have designed and tested a transition radiation detector able to select different mass particles in a high-energy unseparated beam and to provide a prompt identification signal that can be used as a first-level trigger for the physical event acquisition. A measurement on electron/hadron test beam at CERN is presented: on the basis of the results obtained we show that we can promptly separate electrons from pions starting from 1 GeV/ c momentum and we discuss about the possibility to distinguish as well pions from protons in the hundred GeV/ c range of momentum at the level of a few percent of particle mis-identification.