Development of a Polar Network of Cosmic Ray Observatories

这项核磁共振成像计划是在高纬度地区建立一个宇宙射线探测器(中子监测器)网络。探测器被放置在具有战略意义的极地位置，以获取有关宇宙射线到达角度的信息。有了这样的阵列，整个地球就像一个定向宇宙线探测器。地球磁场使粒子偏转的事实被用来确定高能宇宙射线到达的方向。与太空中飞行的宇宙射线探测器相比，这个新的“宇宙飞船地球”将享受远远超过当前航天器能力的计数统计数据。宇宙飞船地球网络是一个国际项目，有美国、俄罗斯和澳大利亚参与。该网络由9个经度大致相等的高纬度站组成(1个在南极洲，由澳大利亚人拥有和运营，4个在俄罗斯，4个在加拿大北部，这些都在本提案中涵盖)。新的网络将用于研究、研究生教育和博士后培训。这些数据将被分析以了解太阳高能粒子的加速和输运，探索太阳风中磁湍流的结构，并阐明瞬时宇宙线变化的机制。该网络具有很高的社会影响，因为PI将在空间天气的背景下检查宇宙射线的作用，并评估网络在预测空间天气方面的作用。可能会提前发出长达10小时的潜在破坏性磁暴预警。(目前，只能提前一小时发出警告)。

This MRI proposal is to build a network of cosmic ray detectors (neutron monitors) at high latitudes. The detectors are placed at strategic Polar locations to obtain information about the cosmic rays' angle of arrival. With such an array, the entire Earth acts as a directional cosmic ray detector. The fact that the Earth's magnetic field deflects the particles is used to determine the direction of arrival of energetic cosmic rays. Compared with cosmic ray detectors flown in space, this new "Spaceship Earth" will enjoy counting statistics far exceeding current spacecraft capabilities. The Spaceship Earth network is an international project, with participation from US, Russia and Australia. The network consists of 9 high-latitude stations, roughly equidistant in longitude (1 in Antarctica owned and operated by the Australians, 4 in Russia, and 4 in Northern Canada which are covered by this proposal). The new network will be used for research, graduate education, and postdoctoral training. The data will be analyzed to understand the acceleration and transport of solar energetic particles, to probe the structure of magnetic turbulence in the solar wind, and to elucidate the mechanism of transient cosmic ray variations. The network has a high societal impact because the PI's will examine the role of cosmic rays in the context of space weather, and evaluate the network role to forecast space weather. An advance warning of as much as 10 hours of potentially damaging magnetic storms might be possible. (Presently, only one hour advance warning is possible).