Galactic cosmic-ray propagation in the light of AMS-02: Analysis of protons, helium, and antiprotons

We present novel constraints on cosmic-ray propagation in the Galaxy using the recent precise measurements of proton and helium spectra from AMS-02, together with preliminary AMS-02 data on the antiproton over proton ratio. To explore efficiently the large (up to 11-dimensional) parameter space we employ the nested-sampling algorithm as implemented in the MULTINEST package, interfaced with the GALPROP code to compute the model-predicted spectra. We use VOYAGER proton and helium data, sampling the local interstellar spectra, to constrain the solar modulation potential. We find that the turbulence of the Galactic magnetic field is well constrained, i.e., delta=0.30(-0.02)(+0.03) (stat)(-0.04)(+0.10) (sys), with uncertainties dominated by systematic effects. Systematic uncertainties are determined checking the robustness of the results to the minimum rigidity cut used to fit the data (from 1 GV to 5 GV), to the propagation scenario (convection vs no convection), and to the uncertainties in the knowledge of the antiproton production cross section. Convection and reacceleration are found to be degenerate and not well constrained singularly when using data above 5 GV. Using data above 1 GV reacceleration is required, upsilon(A) = 25 +/- 2 km/s, although this value might be significantly affected by the low-energy systematic uncertainty in the solar modulation. In a forthcoming companion paper, we investigate the constraints imposed by AMS-02 measurements on lithium, boron, and carbon.