Measurements of Cosmic-Ray Hydrogen and Helium Isotopes with the PAMELA experiment

Understand

The cosmic-ray hydrogen and helium ($^1$H, $^2$H, $^3$He, $^4$He) isotopic composition has been measured with the satellite-borne experiment PAMELA, which was launched into low-Earth orbit on-board the Resurs-DK1 satellite on June 15th 2006.

• The rare isotopes $^2$H and $^3$He in cosmic rays are believed to originate mainly from the interaction of high energy protons and helium with the galactic interstellar medium.
• The isotopic composition was measured between 100 and 1100 MeV/n for hydrogen and between 100 and 1400 MeV/n for helium isotopes using two different detector systems over the 23rd solar minimum from July 2006 to December 2007.