We present the first measurement of cosmic-ray fluxes of Li6 and Li7 isotopes in the rigidity range from 1.9 to 25 GV. The measurements are based on 9.7×105 Li6 and 1.04×106 Li7 nuclei collected by the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer on the International Space Station from May 2011 to October 2023. We observe that over the entire rigidity range the Li6 and Li7 fluxes exhibit nearly identical time variations and, above ∼4 GV, the time variations of Li6, Li7, He, Be, B, C, N, and O fluxes are identical. Above ∼7 GV, we find an identical rigidity dependence of the Li6 and Li7 fluxes. This shows that they are both produced by collisions of heavier cosmic-ray nuclei with the interstellar medium and, in particular, excludes the existence of a sizable primary component in the Li7 flux.

Aguilar, M., Ambrosi, G., Anderson, H., Arruda, L., Attig, N., Bagwell, C., et al. (2025). Properties of Cosmic Lithium Isotopes Measured by the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer. PHYSICAL REVIEW LETTERS, 134(20) [10.1103/physrevlett.134.201001].

Properties of Cosmic Lithium Isotopes Measured by the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer

Consolandi, C.;Gervasi, M.;Grandi, D.;La Vacca, G.;Pensotti, S.;Rozza, D.;Tacconi, M.;
2025

Abstract

We present the first measurement of cosmic-ray fluxes of Li6 and Li7 isotopes in the rigidity range from 1.9 to 25 GV. The measurements are based on 9.7×105 Li6 and 1.04×106 Li7 nuclei collected by the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer on the International Space Station from May 2011 to October 2023. We observe that over the entire rigidity range the Li6 and Li7 fluxes exhibit nearly identical time variations and, above ∼4 GV, the time variations of Li6, Li7, He, Be, B, C, N, and O fluxes are identical. Above ∼7 GV, we find an identical rigidity dependence of the Li6 and Li7 fluxes. This shows that they are both produced by collisions of heavier cosmic-ray nuclei with the interstellar medium and, in particular, excludes the existence of a sizable primary component in the Li7 flux.
Articolo in rivista - Articolo scientifico
Cosmic ray measurement; Cosmic rays; Dark Matter
English
20-mag-2025
2025
134
20
201001
open
Aguilar, M., Ambrosi, G., Anderson, H., Arruda, L., Attig, N., Bagwell, C., et al. (2025). Properties of Cosmic Lithium Isotopes Measured by the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer. PHYSICAL REVIEW LETTERS, 134(20) [10.1103/physrevlett.134.201001].
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/10281/553762
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