Spaceship Earth: A Polar Network of Neutron Monitors

摘要本课题旨在研究太阳高能粒子的加速和输运、太阳风中的磁湍流以及瞬态宇宙射线变化的机制。这些数据来自一个宇宙射线探测器网络（中子监测器），该网络战略性地位于两极周围，目的是收集有关宇宙射线到达角度的信息。有了这样一个阵列，整个地球就像一个定向宇宙射线探测器。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。与在太空中飞行的宇宙射线探测器相比，这艘新的“地球飞船”具有远远超过现有航天器的统计能力。宇宙飞船地球网络是一个国际项目，有来自美国、加拿大、俄罗斯和澳大利亚的参与。它由10个高纬度观测站组成，经度大致相等（在南极洲，在俄罗斯，在加拿大北部）。研究人员还将研究宇宙射线在太空天气中的作用。可能会有长达10小时的潜在破坏性磁暴预警。在空间科学、中子探测器和空间天气方面，还计划开展一项创新的本科教育和公众宣传计划。目前的提案要求资金用于实时合并来自间隔较广的探测器的数据，根据上述空间物理学和天体物理学应用分析数据，以其他研究人员可以使用的形式分发数据，并与俄罗斯科学家合作重新启动西伯利亚的2个失效站。

OPP 98-05780Spaceship Earth: A Polar Network of Neutron MonitorsPI: John Bieber CO-PIs: Paul EvensonEllen PattersonABSTRACTThis proposal is to study the acceleration and transport of solar energetic particles, the magnetic turbulence in the solar wind, and the mechanisms of transient cosmic ray variations. The data are from a network of cosmic ray detectors (neutron monitors) strategically located around the poles in order to gather 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" enjoys counting statistics far exceeding current spacecraft capabilities. The Spaceship Earth network is an international project, with participation from US, Canada, Russia and Australia. It consists of 10 high-latitude stations, roughly equidistant in longitude (in Antarctica, in Russia, in Northern Canada).The investigators will also examine the role of cosmic rays in the context of space weather. An advance warning of as much as 10 hours of potentially damaging magnetic storms might be possible. An innovative program of undergraduate education and public outreach in Space sciences, neutron detectors, and Space Weather is also planned. The present proposal requests funds to combine in real time the data from the widely spaced detectors, analyze the data in terms of the space physics and astrophysics applications mentioned above, distribute the data in a form that can be used by other researchers, and collaborate with Russian scientists to reactivate 2 inoperative stations in Siberia.