The Launch of GAPS in Antartica and NA61 Physics Runs at CERN
April 16 @ 3:30 pm – 5:30 pm
Speakers: Philip von Doetinchem (University of Hawaii)
The precise measurement of cosmic-ray antinuclei is an important means of identifying the nature of dark matter and other beyond-standard-model physics. Recent years have shown that identifying the nature of dark matter with cosmic-ray positrons and antiprotons is difficult, and this has led to a significantly increased interest in cosmic-ray antideuteron and antihelium searches. Antideuterons and antihelium nuclei may also be generated in dark matter annihilations or decays, offering a potential breakthrough in unexplored phase space for dark matter. This presentation discusses the current status, perspectives, and challenges for cosmic-ray antinuclei searches. It will review the motivation for antinuclei searches, discuss the theoretical and experimental uncertainties in antinuclei production and propagation in our Galaxy, and summarize the experimental status, focusing in particular on the latest 2025/26 GAPS and NA61/SHINE data-taking campaigns.
https://indico.phys.hawaii.edu/event/2767