U.S.-Japan Cooperative Research: Composition and Interactions of Ultra-high Energy Cosmic Rays

该奖项支持路易斯安那州立大学物理和天文学系John Wefel教授和Michael Cherry教授与东京大学宇宙射线研究所Ogata教授之间为期两年的美日合作研究项目。这是日美合作乳胶实验(JACEE)的一部分，该实验始于1978年，目的是在高于加速器可用能量的情况下研究高能核-核相互作用的物理，并研究延伸到大范围空气簇射(EAS)区域的初级宇宙射线的核成分。Jacee的合作涉及美国的四家机构和日本的八家机构。日本生产世界上质量最高的核乳剂，日本研究人员率先使用乳胶室。美国科学家已经开发出用于高空气球飞行的技术，包括最新的长时间气球飞行(LDB)能力。这两个国家的实验室都有很好的设备来进行详细的显微镜测量，涉及分析乳胶室中的颗粒事件。这笔赠款将允许美国调查人员前往日本的合作机构。这笔赠款的捐赠者是国家科学基金会物理部，它将支持运输费用和调查人员前往澳大利亚气球飞行地点的旅行费用。

This award supports a two-year U.S.-Japan cooperative research project between Professors John Wefel and Michael Cherry, Department of Physics and Astronomy, Louisiana State University, and Professor Takeshi Ogata, Institute for Cosmic Ray Research, University of Tokyo. It is part of the Japanese-American Cooperative Emulsion Experiment (JACEE), which began in 1978 to investigate the physics of high energy nucleus-nucleus interactions at energies above those available at accelerators and for studying the nuclear composion of primary cosmic rays extending up to the extensive air shower (EAS) region. The JACEE Collaboration involves four institutions in the United States and eight in Japan. Japan produces the world's highest quality nuclear emulsion and Japanese researchers pioneered the use of emulsion chambers. Scientists in the United States have developed the technology for high altitude balloon flights, including the newest Long Duration Ballooning (LDB) capability. Laboratories in both countries are well equipped to carry out detailed microscope measurements involved in analyzing particle events in emulsion chambers. This grant will permit the U.S. investigators to travel to collaborating institutions in Japan. Contributing to this grant is the NSF Division of Physics, which will support shipping costs and the costs of travel of the investigators to the site of balloon flights in Australia.