The Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer AMS
is a state-of-the-art particle physics
detector containing a large permanent magnet, a silicon Tracker, two scintillator systems
and associated electronics and support structures. The instrument was designed,
constructed, and tested by an international team organized under DOE and NASA.
The science objective of AMS project is to advance knowledge of the universe
and to improve the understanding of the origin of universe.
Specifically, the scientific objectives of the AMS is to search for cosmic ray of
antimatter (i.e. anti-helium and heavier anti-elements) and the dark matter.
The international partners of AMS are from Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Portugal,
P.R.China, R.o.China, Russia, Spain, Switzerland, The Netherlands, United Kingdom
and USA. Finland has major responsibility for the design and production of the AMS
ground system. In addition, the laboratory participates in the production of the
particle detection system called Tracker.
On the first flight (test flight) June 1998 the AMS instrument was installed
into the Shuttle (
Discovery,
OV-103) cargo bay and the effective data taking time was
approximately 110 hours during the 11 days
STS-91
mission.
For the second flight year 2005, AMS will be enhanced according to
experience gained from the first flight and it will be installed onto
the International Space Station (
NASA pages,
ESA pages)
for three-year period.
AMS colaboration is led by Nobel-prize winner Dr. Samuel C. C. Ting.
More info on AMS is available as follows: