Mainz 2014 – scientific programme

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T: Fachverband Teilchenphysik

T 37: Experimentelle Methoden 1

T 37.2: Talk

Monday, March 24, 2014, 17:00–17:15, P103

Alignment of the transition radiation detector (TRD) of the AMS-02 experiment — •Michael Müller — I. Physikalisches Institut B, RWTH Aachen, Aachen, Germany

The Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer (AMS-02) is a general purpose high-energy particle physics detector that was installed on the international space station (ISS) in 2011. Among its wide physics program are searches for Dark Matter and antimatter, gamma ray physics and the study of heavy nuclei. The transition radiation detector (TRD) is one of the main components of AMS-02. It consists of layers of proportional tubes that are interleaved with fiber fleece radiators. The TRD allows one to distinguish between positrons and protons by using transition radiation, and uses dE/dx to identify heavy nuclei. Energy loss depends on the path-length a particle travels inside the proportional tube. Therefore a good alignment of the TRD is very important for particle identification. Different alignment algorithms are developed and tested.