The TOF counters of the AMS-02 experiment: space qualification tests and beam test results

Abstract

This publication reports about the development of the Time-of-Flight (TOF) system of the AMS-02 experiment, a high-precision particle physics detector operating aboard the International Space Station (ISS). The paper describes the main design choices adopted to meet performance requirements under the constraints imposed by space operation and reports the performance of the TOF system during vibration and thermal-vacuum tests required for space qualification.