Initial Analysis of IceCube Data at UW-Madison

IceCube项目是一个正在南极建造的100公里中微子观测站，它将把10亿吨天然超透明南极深层冰转变成一个天文望远镜。该望远镜将利用一种名为中微子的亚原子粒子作为尚未探索的宇宙信使。冰捕获中微子，并确定它们在宇宙中的起源。中微子将揭示极端宇宙的中子星，黑洞，类星体和伽马射线爆发。它们可能会泄露暗物质的粒子性质。科学上，我们正在进入南极中微子天文学的关键阶段。虽然中微子望远镜被设计为发现仪器，但它们的性能通常由探测伴随最高能量宇宙射线的中微子的能力来衡量。河外宇宙射线的起源至今仍是一个谜;它们的加速器很可能是由黑洞附近异常的引力驱动的。 该提案要求支持威斯康星州大学的物理学家和天文学家参与对冰立方中微子天文台的初始数据进行科学分析。特别是，该小组计划：宇宙中微子的点通量和扩散通量的测量;伽马射线爆发的中微子观测;超新星探测;和寻找暗物质。地外中微子的观测将具有更广泛的意义，通过找到宇宙中的加速器，从而回答国家研究理事会关于宇宙物理学的研究中提出的11个问题之一：“超高能粒子是从哪里来的？“威斯康星大学麦迪逊分校的IceCube E O项目主要集中在三个方面：提供优质的K - 12教师专业发展，并制作新的基于探究的学习材料，展示正在进行的研究;。通过与少数民族机构和项目合作，为代表性不足的群体提供服务，增加科学和技术劳动力的多样性;通过广播媒体和博物馆等非正式学习机会，提高公众对科学的欣赏和理解

The IceCube project, a 1 cubic-km neutrino observatory being built at the South Pole, transforms a billion tons of natural ultra-transparent deep Antarctic ice into an astronomical telescope. The telescope will exploit a subatomic particle called the neutrino as a yet unexplored cosmic messenger. The ice traps neutrinos and pinpoints their origin in the Universe. Neutrinos will reveal the extreme Universe of neutron stars, black holes, quasars and gamma ray bursts. They may divulge the particle nature of dark matter. Scientifically, we are entering a critical phase of neutrino astronomy at the South Pole. Although neutrino telescopes are designed as discovery instruments, their performance is often measured by the capability to detect those neutrinos that accompany the highest-energy cosmic rays. The origin of extragalactic cosmic rays is as yet a total mystery; their accelerators are likely to be powered by exceptional gravitational forces in the vicinity of black holes. This proposal requests support for University of Wisconsin physicists and astronomers to participate in the scientific analysis of the initial data from the IceCube Neutrino Observatory. In particular, this group plans for: Searches of point and diffuse fluxes of cosmic neutrinos; Observation of neutrinos from gamma-ray bursts; Supernova detection; and Search for Dark Matter.The observation of extra-terrestrial neutrinos would have broader significance, by finding the accelerators in the universe and thereby answering one of the 11 questions posed in the National Research Council study on the Physics of the Universe: "Where do ultra-high energy particles come from?" The IceCube E&O program at UW Madison has focused on three main areas:. Providing quality K - 12 teacher professional development, and producing new inquiry-based learning materials that showcase ongoing research;. Increasing the diversity of the science and technology workforce by partnering with minority institutions and programs that serve underrepresented groups; and. Enhancing the general public's appreciation and understanding of science through informal learning opportunities, including broadcast media and museums