Cosmic rays precision studies with the satellite-borne apparatus PAMELA

PAMELA was launched into an elliptical orbit with an inclination of 70
degrees on June 15th 2006. A permanent magnet silicon strip
spectrometer combined to a silicon-tungsten imaging calorimeter allows
precision studies of the charged cosmic particles to be conducted over
a wide energy range (~100 MeV - 100's GeV) with high statistics. The
primary scientific goal is the measurement of the antiproton and
positron energy spectrum in order to search for exotic sources. PAMELA
is also searching for primordial antinuclei (anti-helium), and testing
cosmic-ray propagation models through precise measurements of the
energy spectrum of antiparticle, of light nuclei and their
isotopes. Concomitant goals include a study low energy particles and
solar modulation during the 24th solar minimum and the reconstruction
of the cosmic ray electron energy spectrum, up to several TeV, this
will allow the study of a possible contribution from local sources. A
short introduction on the physics history of antimatter and on the
status of the PAMELA experiment will lead to a discussion of the
present scientific results.