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

该奖项支持一个为期两年的美日合作研究项目，该项目由路易斯安那州立大学物理与天文学系的约翰·韦费尔教授和迈克尔·切里教授以及东京大学宇宙射线研究所的Ogata教授共同完成。它是日美合作乳剂实验（JACEE）的一部分，该实验开始于1978年，旨在研究高能核-核相互作用的物理性质，其能量高于加速器所能提供的能量，并研究延伸到广泛空气淋点（EAS）区域的初级宇宙射线的核组成。JACEE合作项目包括美国的四家机构和日本的八家机构。日本生产世界上最高质量的核乳剂，日本研究人员率先使用乳剂室。美国科学家已经开发出高空气球飞行技术，包括最新的长时间气球飞行（LDB）能力。两国的实验室设备齐全，可以进行详细的显微镜测量，以分析乳化液室中的颗粒事件。这笔拨款将允许美国调查人员前往日本的合作机构。美国国家科学基金会物理部提供了这笔赠款，它将支持运输费和调查人员前往澳大利亚气球飞行地点的旅费。

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.